They said that the Army Chief of Staff, General MM Naravane, with the help of a group of senior commanders, has been personally involved in planning and overseeing the implementation of the gigantic exercise that began in mid-July and is about to to complete.
A significant number of T-90 and T-72 tanks, artillery guns and infantry fighting vehicles were moved to various sensitive areas, including the Chushul and Demchock sectors, as part of the logistical operation, the sources said.
As part of the operation, the Army transported large quantities of clothing, tents, food, communication equipment, fuel, heaters, and other supplies to Army personnel deployed to outposts and mountain passes at an altitude of more than 16,000 feet. .
“It is by far the largest logistics operation that has been implemented in Ladakh after independence. Its scale is enormous,” a senior military official told PTI on condition of anonymity.
To cope with any Chinese setback, India has deployed more than three army divisions in Eastern ladakh where the temperature fluctuates between minus five and minus 25 degrees Celsius from October to January.
#WATCH Indian Army deploys T-90 and T-72 tanks along with BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicles that can operate at temperatures… https://t.co/Nuf77VOliy
– ANI (@ANI) 1601189056000
Sources said India imported winter clothing and equipment from a couple of European countries and that they have already been delivered to troops in eastern Ladakh.
Almost all of the Indian Air Force transport aircraft and helicopters, including the C-130J Super Hercules and the C-17 Globemaster, were used to carry thousands of tons of food, fuel and other equipment to the region.
The Indian Army has decided to maintain its current troop strength in all key areas in eastern Ladakh in the winter months as there was no sign of an early resolution of the border row with China.
The Indian Air Force (IAF) has also decided to remain on high alert at forward air bases along the Royal Line of Control (LAC).
The Indian and Chinese armies held the sixth round of talks with the Corps Commander on September 21 in a context of the deteriorating situation in the Chushul sector following three incidents of shooting into the air by the Chinese army since the night of August 29 and 30.
Following the incidents, India had occupied at least 20 strategic heights around the southern and northern shores of Lake Pangong.
In the talks, the two sides agreed not to aggravate the situation by announcing a series of measures. However, there was no progress in the withdrawal process.
The sources said a series of talks will be required for the disconnection process to begin.
The situation in eastern Ladakh became much worse after 20 Indian soldiers were killed in a clash in Galwan Valley June 15. The Chinese side acknowledged having suffered casualties, but has not yet released the details. According to a US intelligence report, the death toll on the Chinese side was 35.
The situation deteriorated further after at least three attempts by PLA soldiers to “intimidate” Indian troops along the northern and southern shores of the Pangong Lake area in the past three weeks, where they even shot themselves to air for the first time against LAC in 45 years.
As tensions escalated further, the two countries’ foreign ministers held talks on the sidelines of a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Moscow on September 10, where they reached a five-point agreement. to calm the situation in eastern Ladakh.
The agreement was the basis for the sixth round of corps commander-level talks on Monday, which was also attended for the first time by an MEA deputy secretary.
The agreement aimed at ending the tense confrontation included measures such as the rapid withdrawal of troops, avoiding actions that could increase tensions, compliance with all agreements and protocols on border management, and measures to restore peace throughout LAC. .
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