Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, May 14: In a bid to counter challenges posed by the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) from Ladakh to North East, Indian Army has stepped-up its efforts to expedite setting up of the Mountain Strike Corps, whose idea had been conceived sometimes back but put into motion last year in view of increased Chinese incursions along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Leh.
Official sources told the Excelsior that the XVII Mountain Strike Corps, which would have its headquarters at Panagarh in West Bengal, will have a full fledged Division headquarters at Pathankot in Punjab, neighbouring Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir to give the Strike Corps accessibility to launch any counter attack against the PLA in Leh.
“The Division at Pathankot, which already has a full fledged air base, would be numbered 72,’’ sources said, adding that it would be equipped with most modernized infrastructure to have capability to counter any possible Chinese offensive. The infrastructure would match the caliber of PLA,’’ they said.
According to sources apart from 72 Div at Pathankot, the Mountain Strike Corps would also have another Div (numbered 59) at its headquarters at Panagarh in West Bengal with striking capabilities to take on the PLA challenges in North East including Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim etc. Arunachal Pradesh had always been bone of contention between India and China with latter repeatedly refusing to give regular visa to the people of Arunachal describing the territory as ‘disputed’.
Sources said the Mountain Strike Corps, which is scheduled to be made fully operation by 2018-19 at the cost of approximate Rs 65,000 crores, which could go up due to escalation of prices over the next five years, would have two high altitude infantry divisions apart from two divisions at Panagarh and Pathankot, two independent infantry brigades, two armoured brigades, 30 new infantry battalion and two para special forces battalions.
“More battalions could come up, if required over the period of times as raising of the Corps would be reviewed periodically by the top brass in the Defence Ministry and the Army,’’ sources said, adding that among the 30 new infantry battalions, Ladakh, Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim would get the major share as they shared a long boundary with China, where most of the incursions by the PLA are reported.
The Mountain Strike Corps was slated to have over 90,000 troops including the officers but, sources said, the number was likely to go up to one lakh in view of the increase in demand over the next five years by when the Mountain Corps would be fully operational.
Sources said the Army has already made a start of the launch of Mountain Strike Corps by making operational over 200 major and minor units at different places from Ladakh to Arunachal Pradesh. These units would also help in take other steps required for raising the Corps.
Admitting that the funds (over Rs 65,000 crores) required for raising the Corps, which would go up over the period when it would be made fully functional, would be the only problem in raising the Corps, sources, however, expressed confidence that whichever Government comes at the Centre, the funds would be no problems as it was the issue of national concern.
The idea of launching the Mountain Strike Corps gained momentum after the Chinese Army started frequent incursions in Leh and parts of the North East. The PLA has also gained slight advantage by raising infrastructure on their side of the LAC along with India.
Sources said the raising of the Strike Corps with complete match of PLA capabilities had become an absolute necessity and the Army would be in a position to meet any challenge of the Chinese Army when the Mountain Strike Corps is made fully operational.
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