Describing the withdrawal of Chinese and Indian troops from Pangong Tso in Ladakh as “a win-win situation … a very good outcome” in which “both sides should feel they have achieved something,” he said on Wednesday the Army Chief General MM Naravane “we have our strategies in place” to solve “some remaining problems like the Depsang area … and outstanding problems in other areas along our northern borders.”
Recognizing that there is a “trust deficit” between the two sides, General Naravane said: “We still have a long way to go. Now we have to go to the de-escalation stage. And after that, the retreat of the troops and the withdrawal of the troops that went to the higher reaches … We have to be cautious … we will be very cautious … there is a confidence deficit … unless That confidence deficit is eliminated, we will of course continue to be cautious, continue to watch for any movement that happens on both sides of LAC. But I think at the end of the day, we’ve accomplished a lot. “
He made these comments while answering questions during a webinar hosted by the Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF).
The army chief said that China’s “habit of dragging power” and its strategy in the South China Sea, of achieving its objectives without firing, would not work with India.
“China has had a habit of crawling into power, making very small and incremental changes where each change alone was not very big or worthy of a very strong reaction. And thanks to these little incremental moves that were never contested, he has been able to achieve his goals without firing a single shot or without any loss of life. And what has happened in the South China Sea is a very obvious example of this. I think that more than anything else, what we have accomplished is to show that this strategy will not work for us. And every move will be resolved, ”he said.
When asked what influence India had in negotiating with the Chinese, especially in the Depsang Plains after vacating the heights south of Pangong Tso, on the Depsang Plains in the far north, near the Indian strategic base at Daulat Beg Oldie, near the Karakoram Pass, Chinese troops have been blocking Indian soldiers at a place called Bottleneck, preventing them from accessing their traditional patrol points – the Army chief said: “Looking ahead, some problems remain like Depsang . There are unfinished business in eastern Ladakh and in other areas along our northern borders. But we have our strategies for that. Do we have something to negotiate in the future? Yes, definitely. But I would not like to say what those strategies would be to continue advancing in our negotiations and obtain a favorable result. “
Asked whether there was a threat that China would take the heights that India had left vacant, he said: “The entire separation agreement, or any other agreement, is based on the fact that it will be observed in the letter and in the spirit. We will trust, but we will verify. We have implemented our systems to ensure that these heights are not reoccupied. We can only hope that PLA and China will adhere to this agreement in full. “
He said the disengagement in Pangong Tso was achieved thanks to the “whole government” approach in which negotiations were held at the political, diplomatic and military levels.
On the question of China opening a two-front war against India in collusion with Pakistan, General Naravane said: “There were no obvious signs of such collusion. Whatever they were doing, they continued to do it. There were no large-scale mobilizations or any such activity that suggested any kind of help from one another. “
However, he said that in the long-term strategy of the armed forces, the Indian army takes into account a war on two and a half fronts, with half being internal security.
“These are threats in the being. Whether they manifest or not, only time will tell. With the whole government approach, the worst case scenario should not unfold. But as the military, we are prepared, ”he said.
Speaking about the internal security situation in the northeast, the army chief said that China had created an atmosphere of confrontation and mutual mistrust in the Indian neighborhood.
“The internal dynamics in the Northeast is closely linked to the construction of regional security. This is characterized by growing Chinese belligerence in the Indo-Pacific, its hostility towards weaker nations, and its relentless drive to create regional dependencies through debt traps like the Belt and Road Initiative. Additionally, the resulting Sino-American rivalry has created regional instability and imbalances. China’s growing footprints in the Indian neighborhood and its attempt to unilaterally alter the status quo along our disputed borders have created an atmosphere of confrontation and mutual mistrust, ”he said.
The army chief suggested that the unstable borders with China had also increased India’s challenge of balancing technology with boots on the ground.
“Certain developments on the northern border should make us reflect on another reality. And that’s the nature of our unstable borders. And consequently, challenges regarding our territorial integrity and sovereignty. There are certainly new threats on the horizon. But the harsh reality is that the legacy challenges have not entirely disappeared. In fact, they have only grown in scale and intensity. So while the Indian Army will continue to prepare and adapt to the future, the closer and more real danger on our active borders cannot be ignored. The transition from a labor-intensive army to a technology-driven army is already underway. However, despite these changes, the requirement for boots on the ground will remain an operational imperative. As long as we have unresolved borders, we will need boots on the ground, ”he said.
The China factor, he said, had also forced India to think about accelerating the indigenization of Indian defense requirements.
“The twin challenges of Covid and the belligerence of our adversary on our northern borders have highlighted the vulnerability of global supply chains, underscoring the critical need for self-reliance. Today, self-sufficiency in defense has become a strategic necessity. It is imperative for us to invest in long-term indigenous capacity building for application across the spectrum of the conflict, ”he said.
“Considering the rapid pace of modernization of the defense of our adversaries, we cannot afford to be left behind. Our external dependence on weapons creates vulnerabilities in times of crisis. However, in recent years we have tried to reverse this trend by promoting indigenization, ”he said.
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