NEW DELHI: While India celebrates the retreating of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) in the Galwan valley of Ladakh, tension still looms over parts of North East, which also share a border with China.
Even after several rounds of talks, Beijing can still drag the whole process through the winter and use the distraction to create mischief, possibly in the North East, some military and strategic analysts feel.
It is apprehended that while China will force us to stay engaged in Ladakh, it might do something in another sector, possibly along the borders in Arunachal Pradesh.
It can also create a third front along the Line of Control (LoC) by Pakistan which is almost like a protectorate. There have been constant skirmishes in the LoC for a long time.
Not to be caught by surprise, like in Ladakh, Indian military has already beefed up its presence along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the northern (Ladakh), central (Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh) and eastern (Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh) sectors.
India’s fear was explained recently by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh who, during his visit to the border, said that the ongoing talks should resolve the situation, but he could not “guarantee” to what extent there would be a resolution. It is also possible that China has withdrawn its troops now but it can bring them back later on, including along the borders of the North East.
To be safe than sorry, Indian armed forces have taken measures along the entire LAC to counter any Chinese aggression.
China claims almost the whole of Arunachal Pradesh and Ladakh as its own as former parts of Tibet, which it has already annexed.
