India’s northern and eastern borders remain tense, with Pakistan and China creating conditions that appear to suggest that “a border dispute is being created under a mission,” Defense Minister Rajnath Singh said on Monday, drawing attention to the threat. collusion raised by the two adversaries. .
“You are well aware of the conditions created on our northern and eastern borders. First it was Pakistan, and now also China, as if a border dispute were being created under a mission. We have a border of about 7,000 kilometers (km) with these countries, where tension prevails on a daily basis, ”Singh said, virtually inaugurating a series of Border Roads Organization (BRO) projects to provide connectivity to advanced areas.
The minister’s comments come at a time when tensions are simmering along the Line of Control (LoC) with Pakistan and the Royal Line of Control (LAC) with China, where the Indian Army and the The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) have locked themselves in a border. paddling for more than five months and efforts to reduce friction have not advanced.
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The Indian armed forces are keeping a strict watch on the western front to deter Pakistan from fishing in troubled waters and prevent what could result in a conflict on two fronts.
“Given the symbiotic relationship between China and Pakistan, a collusive threat to India cannot be ruled out. The question is when is it viable for them to start a conflict against India, ”said Lieutenant General BS Jaswal (retired), former commander of the Northern Army.
While India remains focused on expanding its border infrastructure despite ongoing border tensions, Singh dedicated 44 bridges in advanced areas into the country, including 10 in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), eight in Ladakh, Uttarakhand and Arunachal Pradesh, two in Himachal. Pradesh and four in Sikkim, whose lights range between 30 and 484 meters.
The bridges opened by Singh included one on the Darbuk-Shyok-Daulat Beg Oldie (DS-DBO) strategic highway that provides connectivity to the country’s northernmost outpost, DBO. The bridge can support the movement of vehicles weighing up to 70 tons, including tanks.
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The minister also laid the foundation stone for the Nechiphu tunnel in Arunachal Pradesh and said the border infrastructure projects were of strategic importance and would provide connectivity to remote areas of the northeastern state. The 450-meter two-lane tunnel on the road to Tawang will ensure all-weather connectivity through the Nechiphu Pass as well as provide safe passage through accident-prone areas, authorities said.
Singh said the country had not only resolutely faced the challenges posed by the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic and the tensions and border disputes caused by Pakistan and China, but was also causing “historic changes” in all countries. development sectors.
Singh said the new bridges, spread over seven states and two Union Territories (UT), would improve connectivity in remote areas in the western, north and northeast sectors and meet the aspirations of the local population. “They would also comply with the transportation and logistics requirements of the armed forces throughout the year,” the minister said.
Congratulating the BRO for its efforts, Singh said the dedication of 44 bridges to the country in one go was a record. He said that BRO’s annual budget, which ranged from Rs 3,300 crore to Rs 4,600 crore between 2008 and 2016, is at Rs 11,000 crore, with no cuts, despite the prevailing pandemic. He said the government has licensed high-altitude clothing to BRO engineers and workers.
BRO Chief Lieutenant General Harpal Singh said that in addition to accelerating road construction, the organization has placed an emphasis on bridge construction by completing 28 major bridges in 2019. Another 102 major bridges would be completed this year, he added.
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