Different perceptions of boundaries lead to face-offs at LAC: Army chief

New Delhi, May 14 (IANS) Indian Army chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane said on Thursday that temporary face-offs do occur along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China due to the differing perceptions of the alignment of boundaries.

Naravane issued a statement following incidents of skirmishes along the LAC with China, in which he said, “Temporary and short duration face-offs between border guarding troops do occur along the LAC due to the differing perceptions of the alignment of boundaries which are not resolved.”

He said that there were two incidents at Eastern Ladakh and North Sikkim where aggressive behaviour by both sides resulted in minor injuries to troops after which both sides disengaged after dialogue and interaction at the local level.

“It is reiterated that both these incidents are neither co-related, nor do they have any connection with other global or local activities,” Naravane said.

The Indian Army chief also said that all such incidents are managed by established mechanisms wherein local formations from both sides resolve issues mutually.

He pointed that there are established protocols and strategic guidelines which have been given by the Prime Minister after the Wuhan and Mallaparam summits.

Indian border troops have always been upholding peace and tranquility along the border areas he said.

“I can say with confidence that development of infrastructure capabilities along our Northern borders is on track,” Naravane said.

He also stressed that the Indian Army’s posture will not suffer due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Our Border Road Organisation (BRO) continues to work tirelessly even during the Covid-19 pandemic to connect far flung areas so that our civil brethren living in those locations are connected and facilitate faster development to the region,” Naravane said.

Indian and Chinese soldiers were involved in scuffles on two occasions in the last one week along the LAC in Sikkim and Ladakh.

Four Indian soldiers and half-a-dozen of their Chinese counterparts were injured during the confrontation.

In Sikkim, the scuffle took place at the Naku La sector, ahead of Muguthang, a pass at a height of more than 5,000 metres. In total, 150 soldiers were present when the confrontation took place. Later, it was resolved at the local level.

Troops resolve such issues mutually as per the established protocols.

The scuffle in Ladakh took place on the night of May 5 and was resolved by the next morning.

–IANS

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