Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Gen. Bipin Rawat asked the three services to curb all peace-time activities as a sign of regards to the deployed troops in Ladakh since the Galwan conflict erupted and be prepared in case of a worst-case scenario.

Amid rising tensions with China in the Ladakh sector after provocative Chinese actions on the southern bank of Pangong Tso, and India’s counter-maneuvers to occupy key heights, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat had said last month that Pakistan could try to take advantage of any threat developing along India’s northern borders but warned that the Pakistani army would suffer heavy losses if it attempted any misadventure.

Navy’s Marine Commandos (MARCOs) have been asked to be deployed along with the Indian Special Forces to gain experience in polar desert conditions with high wind chill factor and heavy snow. These conditions are prevalent in East-Ladakh where the Indian Army is locked in a stand-off with People’s Liberation Army (PLA) at Gogra-Hot Springs and on both the banks of Pangong Tso lake. Gen Rawat also informed to all the three services that these are not normal times with troops, artillery, and tanks deployed along the 1597 km Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh and hence all peace-time activities must be curbed.

The deployed troops are holding up for the final shipment of polar winter clothing and confront covers, which are anticipated to reach from US Armed forces’ own reserve stocks by the first week of November. A bit like the PLA, the Indian Armed forces are ready for a long pull and are in no mood to relinquish an inch of the region to the aggressive Chinese Army. The PLA has as of now deployed strategic jammers in Arunachal Pradesh and is going in for a gigantic framework and storage capacity upgrade in both Xinjiang and Tibet.

Army Chief, General Bipin Rawat took over charge as Chairman of Chiefs of Staff Committee from outgoing IAF Chief Air Chief Marshal B S Dhanoa on September 27, 2019. As the next COSC chairman, General Rawat is focused to operationalize the appointment of Chief of Defence Staff, enhance tri-service integration, and stimulate simultaneous growth of the services, the defence ministry said.

The COSC comprises of chiefs of the army, the navy and the air force and the senior-most member is appointed as its chairperson. Speaking at a seminar organized by the United States-India Strategic Partnership Forum on ‘Navigating New Challenges’, Rawat highlighted the threat of “Coordinated Action” by the militaries of China and Pakistan along the northern and western borders and stressed that the Indian armed forces were capable enough of handling the joint threat. He had also earlier said that India has border administration conventions with China to advance peace and serenity along the border but of late there have been forceful activities by China that the Indian military is completely capable of handling.

Gen Rawat also had said that India and the US could soon conclude the Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA) for sharing geospatial intel and deriving security insights out of it, adding that India was looking for collaboration with the US. He had further added that India was keeping track of the framework advancement by China within the Tibet Autonomous Region and that its suggestions were being considered while formulating military strategy. The CDS also had alluded to the Quad as a great course of action to guarantee complete freedom of routes on the high oceans and over flights, and unrestricted commerce. China has also been attentive to the Quadrilateral security exchange or Quad that was restored in late 2017 by India, US, Australia, and Japan.

The author is a student member of Amity Centre of Happiness.