Kolkata: Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat stated Monday that the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) is carrying out development activities in Tibet Autonomous Region of China. It is happening amid the Sino-Indian standoff at Ladakh. Bipin Rawat also underlined that Indian forces are well-equipped to deal with any eventuality.
“We are locked in a stand-off in Ladakh. There is some development activity which has been going on in Tibet Autonomous Region of China. Every nation will continue to make preparations to boost its security based on its strategic interests. “I don’t think there should be much concern in that. We, on our side, are also carrying out similar activities,” Rawat told reporters here.
The CDS launched the indigenously built state-of-the-art stealth frigate ‘Himgiri’ at Defence PSU Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers here.
“Indian Armed forces will leave no stone unturned to safeguard the country’s frontiers,” insisted General Rawat. “China’s attempt to change the status quo on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) along the northern borders amidst the COVID-19 pandemic necessitated high levels of preparation on land, sea and in the air,” General Rawat pointed out.
The Indian Army, following the Doklam stand-off in 2017, has taken measures to ensure that the situation does not escalate there any further, he maintained.
Indian forces are carefully watching the activities of the PLA at Doklam,. The armies of the two most populous countries in the world were engaged in a 73-day eyeball-to- eyeball stand-off in 2017.
“We have taken necessary action to counter anything that would be a cause of concern to our national security,” Rawat said. He was replying to a question about possible Chinese misadventures in the eastern sector, in the midst of the Ladakh impasse.
The CDS further said that the Indian Armed forces have adequate strength and reserves to counter any threat. The forces are looking to equip themselves with more cutting-edge technology.
“Time has come now to look at the future of war fighting, imbibing technology into our systems,” asserted the CDS.
General Rawat also talked about the continuous ceasefire violation by Pakistan. He said India is fully prepared to deal with it. He asserted that the other side )(Pakistan) which should be more concerned about carrying out such activities.
He was asked whether India should have more submarines or procure another aircraft carrier. Rawat said both have their advantages and disadvantages.
“Submarines have a separate place in naval warfare, in domination of the seas, and so does an aircraft carrier. It is a fact though that the Navy needs an air wing,” Rawat stated.
Rawat informed that the three forces – Army, Navy and Air Force – will be integrated, while retaining the niche capabilities of each service. “We strongly believe that no single force or no single service can succeed in any conflict situation whether it is land, air or sea,” he said.
The integration will ensure synergised application of India’s combat potentials, the CDS said.