Outgoing Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi said that the situation on the China border is stable but remains sensitive, which requires constant vigilance. More than 1100 ground level interactions take place between the two armies annually, which has improved stability.
Outgoing Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi has said that the situation on the China border is stable, although it remains sensitive, which requires constant vigilance. He also said that the two armies hold more than 1100 ground-level interactions annually to prevent misunderstandings and resolve routine border issues. Speaking to ANI, General Dwivedi said the disengagement agreements have significantly contributed to improving stability on the ground and both sides are showing greater responsiveness to each other’s concerns.
Progress in bilateral relations and military engagement
“The period 2024-25 also saw encouraging developments in the broader bilateral relationship, reflected in the frequency and quality of military and diplomatic engagements,” he said. The outgoing Army chief said several positive indicators point towards gradual normalization, including the setting up of an expert group on border delimitation, a working group on border management, resumption of Kailash Mansarovar Yatra and direct flights, agreement on reopening of border trade through designated passes and some visa facilitation measures.
“At the military level, continued engagement has played an important role in maintaining peace and stability. More than 1,100 ground-level interactions take place annually between the two sides to resolve routine border management issues and prevent misunderstandings,” he said. 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 talks, hotlines, flag meetings and commander-level engagements. These mechanisms have helped ensure stability and facilitate routine activities including patrolling and other local interactions in the border areas.”
Indian Army’s priorities and stance
General Dwivedi said the Indian Army’s priorities are clear: “First, we have to maintain peace and stability along the LAC. Second, we want to resolve local issues through dialogue and established mechanisms. Third, we are committed to maintaining a strong and credible deployment posture to deter any potential threat. At the same time, 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 necessary. “However, our approach is based on peace through strength. The Indian Army’s stance along the LAC will remain firm, credible, alert and fully capable of safeguarding India’s territorial integrity and national interests.” (ANI)
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