Updated: September 11, 2020 9:32:01 am
Workers from the Border Roads Organization (BRO) rest near Lake Pangong in Ladakh. (AP Photo: Manish Swarup, file)
Indian troops are being deployed in large numbers along Finger 3 ridge on the north shore of Pangong Tso in Ladakh, where the PLA buildup has increased significantly in the past 48 hours as the Chinese seek to move further west. Finger 4. Chinese movements on the north bank: PLA troops have been on the Finger 4 ridge line since May after reaching 8 km west of Finger 8, which India claims marks the Royal Line of Control , is seen as an attempt to snatch the advantage after Indian troops occupied dominating heights on the stretch from the southern shore of the lake to Rechin La near Rezang La on August 29-30.
Sources said the Chinese, who never left Finger 4 ridge even after agreeing to the total disconnect, gathered about 2,000 soldiers on the upper reaches of the ridge on Tuesday night. Observing the movement of Chinese troops, India also moved to reflect the deployment, sending almost the same number of troops to the Finger 3 ridge line.
Read | Jaishankar and Wang hold direct talks for more than two hours in Moscow
A government source said on Thursday that the situation remained tense and that less than 500 meters separated troops from the two sides.
“The forces on both sides are armed. They are all within shooting range and the line of sight is clear in the upper reaches. The weather is harsh at night too. The challenge is to keep the troops calm, “said the source. A second official said the PLA has not brought additional troops into the region, but has gathered troops scattered across the mother mountain range at Finger 4.
A government source said on Thursday that the situation remained tense and that less than 500 meters separated troops from the two sides.
The troops on both sides are on the ridge line connecting fingers 3 and 4, or at the “knuckles” from where the finger-shaped spurs descend into the lake. Finger 4’s knuckle is called the Green Top, and it’s where the PLA troops are stationed. From this position, they have a commanding view of India’s Dhan Singh Thapa Post, just west of Finger 3, near the base.
Read | At Ric meet in Moscow: Jaishankar and Wang will meet today as troops en masse across LAC
About 1 km north of Green Top there is another elevation called Pimple. The PLA has also taken care of this. Knuckle Finger 3 is located 1 km northwest of Pimple, and this is the section where the situation is tense, according to sources from the security establishment.
The sources said Indian forces have been trying to reach the top of Finger 3, but are being impeded by the large number of PLA troops nearby. Indian troops, sources said, have made at least two attempts in recent days to dominate the upper part of Finger 3, only to be met with a display of flags by PLA troops.
Army sources maintained that India occupies a dominant position, having occupied heights to the north and west of the PLA positions.
A senior Army officer said: “It is obvious that there is an increase in force, because we are sitting at greater heights.” He said that Chinese troops are occupying the Finger 4 ridge at four different heights, and that “we have also occupied multiple features and are dominating.”
A source said: “The assessment was that sooner rather than later, the Chinese would come down to cut off our access to Dhan Singh Thapa Post. We had to make sure they were locked. Now, along the entire ridge of Finger 3, the strength of the Indian troops has increased in different places to match the Chinese. Even on the mother ridge, we have increased our strength. “
A panoramic view of Pangong Lake in Ladakh can be seen through a small tower made of stones collected by tourists on the shores of Pangong Lake. Over the past few weeks, tensions between India and China have increased along the lines of royal control. Shuaib Masoodi express photo
“We also hold some highly advantageous positions over Finger 3. From some of them, we have a clear view of Fingers 6 and 7, which are currently under Chinese control. Previously, these fell into the shadow area for us, ”the source said.
Read | Preparing for Moscow, Delhi and Beijing work hotlines to reduce tensions
Another official said: “The situation needs concerted efforts to reduce the escalation, which are already being done. However, talks at the commander and brigade level are not yielding results. In general, the two sides keep repeating their position and the PLA shows no intention of downscaling. If progress is made in diplomatic talks, another Corps Commander-level meeting may be in the offing. “
There has been no progress on the ground in Ladakh since mid-July after some initial disconnect in the Galwan Valley and the distancing of troops in the Hot Springs-Gogra Post area. Since then, the PLA has increased its strength, both in terms of manpower and artillery, at all friction points.
There has also been considerable entry into the Depsang Plains, where the Chinese have cut off Indians’ access to traditional patrol points.
📣 The Indian Express is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel (@indianexpress) and stay up to date with the latest headlines
For the latest news about India, download the Indian Express app.
© The Indian Express (P) Ltd
.
