NEW DELHI, Jan 12:
In a stern message to Pakistan, Chief of Army Staff Gen MM Naravane today said India will never tolerate cross-border terrorism and it reserves the right to respond with precision to any terror activity at a time and place of its choosing.
Addressing a press conference ahead of Army Day on January 15, he also said India must be prepared to deal with a “two-front” threat scenario as collusive approach by Pakistan and China was manifesting on the ground.
“Pakistan continues to embrace terrorism as an instrument of state policy. However, we are very clear that we have zero-tolerance for terror and we reserve our right to respond at a time and place of our own choosing and with precision,” he said.
He said India has sent a clear message to Pakistan that it will not tolerate any terrorist activities.
Elaborating on growing cooperation between China and Pakistan, the Army chief said India must be prepared to deal with a “two-front” threat scenario suggesting that both may create trouble simultaneously.
“There is no doubt that a collusive threat exists. This is not just something which was part of some strategy paper or loud thought process. It is very much manifesting on the ground,” he said.
“There is indeed increased cooperation between China and Pakistan in both military and non-military fields. And a two-front threat is very much something that we have to be prepared to deal with and in dealing with such a threat, we will have to see which is the more serious threat and prioritise and deal with that first,” he said.
Talking about Jammu and Kashmir, Gen Naravane said though the situation in hinterland has improved, it has not yet reached a level when the government can contemplate moving troops out of the Union Territory.
Notwithstanding the coronavirus pandemic, Pakistan has been resorting to unprovoked ceasefire violations along the LoC and making concerted efforts to push militants into Kashmir.
Gen Naravane today hoped for an amicable resolution of the military standoff with China in Ladakh through talks and based on “mutual and equal security” even as he said the collusive and potent threat from China and Pakistan to India cannot be “wished away”.
Gen Naravane at the same time asserted that Indian troops are fully prepared to deal with any eventuality along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and will hold their ground as long as it takes to achieve the “national goals and objectives.”
On increasing security challenges at the LAC, he said a need was felt about “rebalancing” of troops along the northern borders and subsequently steps have been taken to put adequate focus on the borders with China.
“I am sure that through dialogue and discussion, we will be able to reach an amicable solution based on the principle of mutual and equal security and in consonance with the talks…I am very hopeful for a positive situation. But as I said, we are ready to meet any eventuality,” he said.
“We are prepared to hold our ground as long as it takes to achieve our national goals and objectives.
The Army chief said the Indian troops are maintaining a high level of alertness all along the LAC and not just in Ladakh.
“Our operational preparedness is of a very high order and the morale of the troops is high. Whatever has transpired in the last year has highlighted the need for us to restructure and for us to enhance our capability,” he added.
Asked about the actual situation in Eastern Ladakh, Gen Naravane said it remains the same that was prevailing last year, and there has been no change in status quo.
To another question on the same issue, he said the situation remains the same whatever existed earlier.
India and China are locked in a military standoff in Eastern Ladakh since May 5 last year.
Referring to the overall security challenges facing India, he said Pakistan and China together form a potent threat to national security.
“There is no doubt that Pakistan and China together form a very potent threat and there is an aspect of collusivity which cannot be wished away. That is also very much part of our strategic planning and calculus when we are formulating our plans,” he said.
Gen Naravane said there has been an increasing cooperation between China and Pakistan in both military and non-military sectors and the possibility of a two-front threat is something India should be prepared for.
When queried on China’s mobilisation of troops in May last year, the Army chief said it was not new as they came to the region for training and India was monitoring them. However, he added the Chinese army had the “first mover advantage”.
“We had the first mover advantage in August as they did not know we will surprise them,” he said, in an apparent reference to Indian Army capturing a number of strategic heights along the Pangong lake in August last year.
Gen Naravane also said China has withdrawn some troops from depth areas on conclusion of training and noted there is no reduction in deployment of troops at the frontline.
“Every year PLA (People’s Liberation Army) troops come to traditional training areas for training. With the onset of winters and completion of the training period, the training areas have been vacated and since these training areas have been vacated, it is fair to assume that those troops who were in depth areas on the Tibetan Plateau have gone back to their garrison,” he added.
“However, there is no decrease in strength either on their side or on our side as far as friction points are concerned.” (PTI)
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