The Indian army has reinforced its own tank formations in the area.
New Delhi:
There has been a significant increase in Chinese tank forces and infantry forces in the Pangong region of southern eastern Ladakh after the Indian army took the lead and gained control of several key heights in the area on August 30. Given the range of their weapons, the Chinese artillery would be located in “deep” positions, more than twenty kilometers from the Royal Line of Control.
Sources have told NDTV that the presence of additional tank forces has been detected not far from the Chinese positions in Moldo, in southern Pangong. However, the Chinese heavy weapons movement remains fond of the Indian army “ dominating the heights from Thakung to beyond Mukpari. ” This includes controlling both shoulders of the crucial Spanggur Gap, a high-altitude pass that stretches more than two kilometers wide through which tanks can operate.
The Indian Army has reinforced its own tank formations in the area and has deployed additional forces to shore up the heights it has along the disputed Royal Line of Control in the region.
By mastering the heights, the Indian infantry forces are in a position to engage Chinese troop and armored formations with anti-tank guided missiles, rockets and other weapons. India also operates missile-armed T-90 heavy main battle tanks, in addition to upgraded T-72M1 tanks in high-altitude areas in eastern Ladakh.
NDTV has learned that despite the total domination of the Indian forces in the region, the Chinese Army continues to hold positions at Black-Top and Helmet, two characteristics on the Chinese side of the Royal Line of Control. Various sources have told NDTV that both positions are within the reach of Indian soldiers who occupy nearby heights and stand firm on the basis of these characteristics. In other words, any prolonged maintenance and replenishment of these Chinese posts would be challenging.
There has also been intense air activity along the Royal Line of Control with the Chinese Air Force intensifying its fighter deployment from Ngari-Gunsa and Hotan air bases in Tibet. Most of the Chinese combat flight has been carried out using home-made versions of the Sukhoi 30 fighter, which is also the mainstay of the Indian Air Force.
The situation throughout LAC is “a bit tense,” Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane said this morning, adding that “we have made some preventive deployments for our own security.” “In view of the situation, we have made some precautionary deployments for our own security and protection. These deployments are carried out throughout LAC,” Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane said today, referring to the de facto border with China.
“We are confident that the problem can be fully resolved through talks,” added the army chief.
Both the IAF and the Chinese Air Force have deployed electronic alert and support aircraft to the region. It is unclear whether the Chinese are conducting 24-hour combat raids in the region.
The Indian Air Force, which is heavily deployed to multiple air bases in North India, would respond to Chinese air activity by conducting its own sorties through the Royal Line of Control.
It is also unclear whether the fighter jets of either party have made aggressive attempts to lock their fire-control radars against each other, a prelude to firing air-to-air missiles. The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria visited the Indian Air Force bases in the northeast yesterday.
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