War clouds continue to hover over Ladakh. Despite many rounds of meetings at Corps Commander and Brigade Commander level, there is no change in ground position. Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) troops have taken positions at a few places on the Indian side of Line of Actual Control (LAC). On the other hand, Indian Army (IA) has heavily reinforced its positions with troops and weapon systems. IA currently occupies some important high ground that puts the PLA on the defensive at many points.
Meanwhile, there has been a meeting at the Defence Minister's level at Moscow where they have shared each others position and shown desire to de-escalate. More important was the meeting between the two Foreign Ministers, again at Moscow, on the sidelines of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meeting, where a five-point plan has been evolved to act as guidance to maintain peace and tranquillity in the border areas and avoid any action that could escalate matters. The Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China border affairs (WMCC), should also continue its meetings. As per plan, further military-level talks are being scheduled.
On the other hand, there have been high-level visits to Ladakh by the Indian Prime Minister, Defence Minister, and the Army and Air Force Chiefs. The Indian Air Force (IAF) Chief has also visited some the Eastern Air Command airbases to take stock of operational preparedness. Indian Army and IAF have not only moved operational assets into Ladakh region, but also strengthened forces all along the northern border. Indian Navy is on heightened alert in the Indian Ocean. IAF has greatly supported move of IA assets including tanks and other mechanised vehicles and equipment by air. IAF Su-30 MKI, Jaguars, MiG 29s and even LCA have moved to some forward locations.
This story is from the October 2020 edition of Geopolitics.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the October 2020 edition of Geopolitics.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Lessons From Gaza And Lebanon
The ongoing war, loosely called the Gaza War, is actually being fought in two different loosely connected segments; against the Hamas with a spill off in the West Bank and East Jerusalem areas against Palestinian factions and against the Hezbollah in Lebanon with a spill off in Syria. Treating Israel-Hamas War and the Lebanon War as separate entities, RAJ MEHTA explains the lessons from these wars
POSITIVE STEPS TOWARDS POTENTIAL REGIONAL COOPERATION
It has been a whirlwind of diplomatic activity for India recently. India participated in both the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation SCO) summit that took place in Islamabad on October 15-16, and the 16th BRICS Summit was held in Kazan, Russia, from October 2224, 2024. These back-to-back summits within a short span of time underscore India's active role in shaping regional and global diplomacy, balancing national interests with multilateral cooperation
THE EAGLE'S EYE TEJAS MK-II RADAR PIERCES VEIL OF THE SKY
The Tejas Mk-II, featuring DRDO's GaN-based Uttam AESA radar, marks a major leap in India's defence, enhancing range, precision, and multi-target tracking capabilities, highlights GIRISH LINGANNA
PRIME MOVER
The indigenously developed Wheeled Armoured Platform (WhAP) has received a boost with its first export order from the Kingdom of Morocco
TRANSFORMATIONAL INDUCTION
The GA-ASI MQ-9B will dramatically enhance the ISR and precision strike capabilities of the Indian armed forces
TACAN PRINCIPLES OF OPERATION
Navigation systems have evolved significantly since the Viking era, with Tactical Air Navigation TACAN) now widely used for air and sea travel. Post-World War Il, reliable systems became essential for safety and efficiency, as highlighted by DR. SUJAN KUMAR SARASWATI, in this article on TACAN’s operational principles.
AIRBORNE TRACKER
Indigenous efforts towards AEW&C and AWACS platforms need to be stepped up even as international programmes extend the current state-of-the-art for such aircraft, highlights
AFFORDABLE LETHALITY THE INDIAN DILEMMA
India's defence dilemma is now being complicated by the lessons learnt in the Ukraine and Gaza wars because these conflicts are reshaping the way wars are fought in the modern world.
FROM IMPORTS TO SELF-RELIANCE IN ARMS
Self-reliance in Defence Production needs new ideas, new definitions _es and an appropriate methodology, argues AMIT COWSHISH
"THE INDIAN AIR FORCE IS WORKING HARD TO REMAIN A CREDIBLE AIR FORCE"
Commissioned into the fighter stream of the Indian Air Force on December 21, 1984, Air Chief Marshal AMAR PREET SINGH PVSM AVSM took over as the 28th Air Chief of India on September 30, 2024.
