Resumption of talks after nearly 4 months
More Garud forces for Eastern Ladakh
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Aug 12: As India and China resume talks after nearly four months on the issue of Eastern Ladakh, the Indian delegation to be led by GOC Leh Corps Lt Gen Rashim Bali is likely to press for early disengagement of troops from the remaining friction points.
Meanwhile, teams of Garud Special Forces of the Indian Air Force (IAF) have been deployed in Eastern Ladakh sector along Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China.
Last delegation-level talks between India and China were held on April 23.
The Indian delegation at Sino-Indian talks is likely to seek completion of the disengagement process in the remaining friction points at the earliest.
While GOC Leh Corps Lt Gen Rashim Bali will lead the Indian delegation, the Chinese team is expected to be led by the Commander of the South Xinjiang Military District.
The fresh round of talks is set to take place at Chushul-Moldo border meeting point on the Indian side, the sources said.
The Indian and Chinese troops are locked in an over three-year standoff in certain friction points in Eastern Ladakh even as the two sides completed disengagement from several areas following extensive diplomatic and military talks.
In the 18th round of the military dialogue that was held on April 23, the Indian side strongly pressed for resolving the lingering issues at Depsang and Demchok.
Meanwhile, more Garud Special Forces of the IAF have been deployed in Eastern Ladakh to meet with any emergency situation along LAC with Ladakh though it remained peaceful after 2020 Galwan clash.
On the role of Garuds during stand-off on the Eastern front and on the Northern borders as well, sources said Garuds are continuously deployed there since the 2017 China-India border standoff.
Sources said India has deployed a squadron of upgraded MiG-29 fighter jets at the Srinagar air base to tackle threats from both the Pakistani and Chinese fronts
The Tridents squadron which is now also known as the ‘Defender of the North’ has replaced the MiG-21 squadron at the Srinagar air base which has traditionally been responsible for taking care of the threat from Pakistan.
“Srinagar lies in the centre of Kashmir valley and its elevation is higher than plains. It is strategically better to place an aircraft with a higher weight-to-thrust ratio and less response time due to proximity to the border and is equipped with better avionics and long-range missiles. The MiG-29 fulfils all these criteria due to which we are capable of taking in the enemies on both fronts,” sources said.
“The fighter aircraft have also been provided with the capability to jam the enemy aircraft’s capabilities during times of conflict”, officials said.
They said the upgraded aircraft can operate at night with night vision goggles and has a longer range due to air-to-air refuelling capability.
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