While the negotiations to resolve the elusive and intricate standoff between the Indian Army and the Chinese PLA in the Eastern Ladakh are continuing at the military and diplomatic levels, a report of fresh altercation between the troops in the area of Pangong Tso, on the night of 29/30 August 2020 acts as a damper.

The precise details are awaited but a press Release by the ministry of Defence this morning confirms this news.

The incident is reported in the general area, on the southern bank of Pangong Tso Lake, where the Chinese attempted to carry out provocative military movements with the intent to change the status quo. The Indian Army took a series of decisive manoeuvres locally. No violence, death or injury has been reported is noteworthy.

We would complement the Indian Army for taking quick and proactive actions to strengthen our positions on ground and thwart the Chinese design to unilaterally change the status on ground.

Such incidents are neither unlikely nor abnormal, especially when the opposite side troops are kept in close proximity and disengagement has not taken place.

But the offensive spirit of the Commanders and Troops of Indian Army is truly admirable, which led to actions.

It is Important to remember, that our troops have been deployed in Eastern Ladakh for a while now and are looking to status quo ante in Ladakh on pre -April 2020 positions.

The Government of India has made clear its intention and we may recall CDS, Gen Bipin Rawat’s statement on 24 August 2020, which has been widely reported in the media.

He had explicitly stated, “A military option to deal with transgressions by Chinese PLA (People’s Liberation Army) in Ladakh is on the table, but will be exercised only if the talks between the two armies and the diplomatic options are unfruitful”.

It’s also been highlighted that the Raksha Mantri, NSA and all those responsible for national security are reviewing all options with the objective to restore the status quo ante in Ladakh.

In short be prepared to fight, if logic is given a goby by the Chinese. We have to appreciate that the Chinese understand power and listen to strength, so the time has come to let the Indian Military do some talking with guns this time; need to carry out some offensive actions.

Let’s hope better sense prevails in the Chinese leadership headed by Xi Jinping and issues resolved by discussions and negotiations. Certainly acrimony during the Covid-19 times is best avoided.