India-China Deadlock in Ladakh Won’t Resolve soon? Process of De-Escalation is Long

New Delhi : Top officials of the Indian Army, including Chief of Defense Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat, informed a committee of MPs on Monday that the process of de-escalation in Ladakh is long, but the Indian armed forces are ready for it. All arrangements have been made for the deployment of the army for the extreme winter.

The deadlock between India and China in East Ladakh has been going on since May. The standoff turned into a violent clash in June. On 14 June, there was a confrontation between India and Chinese soldiers, in which 20 soldiers of India were martyred, while a large number of Chinese soldiers were also killed.

The top generals and three-star generals who attended the meeting also emphasized that the Indian armed forces are ready to face any attack. At the same time, the trust deficit with China is also being brought back. Besides General Rawat, at least four three-star generals were also present, including Lieutenant General S. K. Saini, the Deputy Chief of the Indian Army.

Regaining the same level of trust with the Chinese military after the violent clashes in the Galvan Valley is going to be very difficult. This can hinder the process of de-escalation and dis-engagement.

At the same time, on the deadlock with China, the Ministry of Defense uploaded the documents on its website. It said that Chinese aggression on the LAC is increasing and the current deadlock may continue for a long time. The ministry said that the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) arrived in India on 17–18 May in the areas of Kugrang Nala, Gogra and Pangong Tso of the North Bank. However, the documents were later removed from the ministry’s website.