Media reports alleging encroachment by Chinese PLA in Arunachal Pradesh incorrect, without basis: Indian Army
New Delhi, June 29
The Indian Army on Monday rebutted reports in a section of the media alleging encroachment by the Chinese People's Liberation Army and setting up camps in Arunachal Pradesh and termed them "incorrect and without basis".
"We have seen some media reports alleging recent encroachment by Chinese PLA and setting up of camps in Arunachal Pradesh. These reports are incorrect and without any basis," the Indian Army said.
India and China held the 35th meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation & Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC) in Beijing last month.
A Ministry of External Affairs release said later that the discussions were constructive and forward-looking.
The two sides reviewed the situation in the India-China border areas and expressed satisfaction with the progress made in maintaining peace and tranquility in the border areas, which has enabled progress towards gradual normalization of bilateral relations.
The two sides discussed issues pertaining to delimitation, border management, mechanism building and cross-border cooperation. Indian side stressed on early meeting of the next Expert Level Mechanism on Trans-border Rivers.
Outgoing Army chief General Upendra Dwivedi on Monday said the situation along the China border is stable even though it continues to be sensitive, requiring constant vigilance, and added that the two militaries hold over 1100 ground-level interactions annually to prevent misunderstandings and address routine border issues.
In an interaction with ANI, Gen Dwivedi said the disengagement agreements have contributed significantly to improving stability on the ground and both sides are displaying greater responsiveness towards each other's concerns.
He said that the "overall situation is being managed through well-established mechanisms. Whenever local issues arise due to differing perceptions of the LAC, they are addressed through military-to-military interactions, hotlines, flag meetings and commander-level engagements. These mechanisms have helped ensure stability and facilitate routine activities, including patrolling and other local interactions in border areas."
Gen Dwivedi said the Indian Army's priorities remain clear: "First, we must preserve peace and tranquillity along the LAC. Second, we seek to resolve local issues through dialogue and established mechanisms. Third, we remain committed to maintaining a robust and credible deployment posture to deter any potential threat. Simultaneously, we continue to strengthen infrastructure, logistics, surveillance capabilities and overall operational preparedness along the Northern Borders."
He said the Indian Army is committed to engagement and dialogue wherever required.
"However, our approach is based on peace through strength. The Indian Army's posture along the LAC will continue to remain firm, credible, vigilant and fully capable of safeguarding India's territorial integrity and national interests."
— ANI
Reader Comments
Respect to the Indian Army for maintaining transparency and clarifying these reports. As someone who follows border issues, I appreciate the focus on routine interactions and established mechanisms. 1,100 ground-level interactions a year is massive! That's the kind of practical diplomacy that prevents misunderstandings. Smart.
Media needs to be more responsible before publishing such sensitive stories. Imagine the panic it would create in border villages! The Army's statement is clear - these reports are "incorrect and without basis". Our soldiers are vigilant and we trust their assessment. Let's not give Pakistan or China the propaganda advantage with false narratives.
I understand the sensitivity, but why do such reports keep surfacing? The Army chief says situation is stable but sensitive. With 35 WMCC meetings and constant flag meetings, one wonders if all this dialogue is actually building trust or just managing tensions. The real test will be when patrol rights in sensitive sectors get fully sorted.
This is reassuring. I appreciate the Army's proactive communication. The infrastructure development along northern borders mentioned by Gen Dwivedi is crucial. We need more roads, rail connectivity, and surveillance systems in Arunachal. Peace through strength is the only language our northern neighbour understands. 🇮🇳
The level of military-to-military engagement described here is impressive - over 1,100 ground-level interactions annually! That's roughly 3 meetings per day dedicated to preventing border misunderstandings. This is how mature nations manage complex borders. Kudos to both armies for maintaining this level of professionalism despite the broader tensions.
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