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HomeDefenceNorthern Army commander reveals how China was forced to negotiate Ladakh disengagement

Northern Army commander reveals how China was forced to negotiate Ladakh disengagement

Lt Gen. Y.K. Joshi says PLA was refusing to vacate area between Fingers 4 & 8, but after India occupied Kailash heights, China was forced to negotiate on its terms.

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New Delhi: The India-China disengagement at the Pangong Tso in Ladakh is under conditions favourable to India, which is a success, Northern Army Commander Lt Gen. Y.K. Joshi has asserted.

Joshi told ThePrint that the Army’s action to occupy heights on the southern bank of the lake last August turned the tables on the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and forced it to come to the negotiating table.

“The agreements and protocols that existed between India and China were unilaterally violated by China. The PLA tried to unilaterally change the status quo along the LAC by mobilising, deploying and using force,” said Lt Gen. Joshi, who oversaw Operation Snow Leopard, India’s response to the Chinese aggression.

A Kargil War hero and former defence attaché in China, Joshi said the Northern Command responded to the transgressions by “speedily mobilising, pitching strength opposite the friction points and posturing”.

He said five rounds of talks at the corps commander level and a series of talks at other levels failed to create any headway.

“The PLA again resorted to an aggressive move on 29/30 August night in the areas opposite south of Pangong Tso. In a quid pro quo action, Northern Command occupied the most dominating features of Rechin La and Rezang La on the Kailash range. These are the features that overlook areas up to Moldo Garrison and other areas beyond LAC well in depth,” he said.

Lt Gen. Joshi, who commanded the Leh-based 14 Corps before taking over as the Northern Army Commander, said that in a simultaneous action, heights that dominate Finger 4 on the northern bank of the lake were also occupied.

“This action turned the tables on PLA and PLA was forced to come to the negotiating table. During the 9th round of talks, PLA agreed for disengagement under conditions favourable to us,” he said.


Also read: Those criticising troop pull-back at Pangong Tso are ignorant of facts — Army ex-chief Malik


Verification process

Explaining the disengagement process, which he said has been put in writing, ratified by the headquarters, and put into action, Lt Gen. Joshi said it consists of four steps, each of which is to be followed up by monitoring and verification.

The officer, known to be proficient in Mandarin and regarded as someone who understands the Chinese psychology, said step 1 of the disengagement process involves armoured and mechanised units moving back beyond the designated lines. Step 2 and 3 include moving the infantries from the northern and southern banks of Pangong Tso, and Step 4 is disengagement from the Kailash range.

Only once a step is complete to the satisfaction of both armies will they graduate to the next, he said.

“Every day begins with a flag meeting to confirm the day’s activities, and at the end of the day, hotline messages are exchanged to confirm that each side has done its part. We are continuously monitoring from the vantage points and UAVs. As and when required, satellite images and Air Force photo recce missions are also undertaken. In case of any grey area or doubt, the same is clarified in the flag meeting,” Joshi said.

The Northern Army Commander added that a review of the implementation of the disengagement plan is also carried out during the next day’s flag meeting, and contentious issues, if any, are raised and discussed.

He said the progress so far has been satisfactory and the PLA has “shown sincerity of purpose”. Over 200 tanks and artillery pieces have been moved back.

“This activity has been verified through satellite images and photo recce missions of the Air Force. It can be seen from the vantage points that PLA has started removing the shelters, dismantling the fortifications and helipads,” Joshi said.

Confirming ThePrint’s 15 February report on the state of disengagement, he said the Chinese-made jetty at Finger 5 has been moved out and the related infrastructure removed.

“It has been agreed upon that all the structures that were created post April will be removed, and they are seen adhering to this commitment. We can say that step 2 has been completed and step 3 is in progress,” he said.

No-patrol zone

Lt Gen. Joshi also addressed the no-patrolling zone area between Finger 4 and 8, and refuted the criticism that India has lost out to China.

He underlined that both sides have gone back to their April 2020 positions — the Indian Army was occupying the Dhan Singh Thapa post (between Finger 2 and 3) and the PLA was east of Finger 8, he said. The PLA used to patrol till Finger 4, he pointed out, adding that India’s perception of the LAC runs along Finger 8, whereas the Chinese perception is till Finger 4.

“Post April 2020, PLA occupied areas till Finger 4, constructed dugouts, sangars (stone fortification), helipads, pitched tents and created other structures. In the current understanding, both the sides have gone back to April 2020 scenario wherein our last post remains Dhan Singh Thapa post and PLA goes back east of Finger 8,” he said.

Lt Gen. Joshi, who also commanded the 3 Infantry Division in Leh, said some people are trying to create a misperception that by accepting this no-patrolling area, India has lost out to the PLA.

“The fact is that it is a huge success for us. First, PLA is moving back beyond our claim line, that is Finger 8. Second, this agreement denies them the advantage of patrolling till Finger 4. In fact, the PLA will not be carrying out any activity, military or otherwise, in the areas claimed by us. Third, they will be restoring the entire land form within our claim line and dismantling all the structures that were created post April 2020. Hence, the realities have to be understood in the correct perspective,” he said.

The officer added that at one point, the PLA was refusing to vacate this area between Finger 4 and Finger 8, but once the tables were turned on 29 and 30 August, “it was forced to negotiate according to our terms”.


Also read: Army chief Naravane calls for renewed focus on Northeast amid ‘rising footprints of China’


 

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13 COMMENTS

  1. We should not believe China, a fox in nature, may not give uo irs hegemony. Other countries which have taken loan, forcibly guven by China, should shunt out of their countries. Otherwise China will grab those countries akso.

  2. Kudos to the Indian army for showing restraint and courage in this volatile situation. The world is realising that the Chinese cannot be trusted in any area. There is something inherently dishonest/deceitful in their DNA and their culture. Our world is at a juncture where races and cultures like this (Russia, Israel and Jews, Arab nations) need to be ‘brought’ to good behaviour in order for our world to progress and save itself from destruction by these types of peoples. It’s time non-offensive countries like India, Canada, US, France, Germany, UK and others became more active in stopping the hegemony of China, Israel, Russia, Iran and others.

  3. LOL … What’s the use of HUGE MILITARY MIGHT … if you don’t actually get to use it ….
    Let the CHINKY CHIPMUNKZ try to hiss again … they will … for sure … that’s the nature of the VICIOUS SERPENT … but be sure … their HISS will get drowned in their own PIIISSSSS …

  4. It is understood that the parliamentary committee on defense of which RG is also a member is scheduled to visit the area in May . Let us wait for what they have to say after the visit.

  5. At this time every patriotic Indian citizen will firmly stand with our Armed Forces.. Will speak in 1 Voice…
    Will definatly learn from our history that “United we stand, divided we fall”.
    Jay Hind… Vande Mataram…

  6. The Chinese have something up their sleeve. The Indian are oblivious to it. The Chinese are no fools. In fact they are much, much smarter then the Indians. This Chinese move is very well planned to entrap India into a rut and a slow and painful “death.” When it comes to planning the Chinese are very meticulous unlike the Indians who are ad-hoc, haphazard and reactive. Joshi is making a fool of himself by thinking the Indians have out-smarted the Chinese. Only a fool self congratulates himself. In military might China is far, far and far ahead of India. Mark my words that India is only deceiving itself and is in in for a hugh surprise. Hold your breath and await for that fateful Day.

    • Very True. General Joshi is deceiving himself, who like General Mulliick ex Army chief refused to listen to sensible advice of Brigade commanders. Later We paid hevy price in getting kargil peaks vacated from pak occupation

    • LOL … What’s the use of HUGE MILITARY MIGHT … if you don’t actually get to use it ….
      Let the CHINKY CHIPMUNKZ try to hiss again … they will … for sure … that’s the nature of the VICIOUS SERPENT … but be sure … their HISS will get drowned in their own PIIISSS …

  7. The bottom line is India is still losing at least 10,000 square miles of its land to China. Whether they leave a few places or not doesn’t matter.

  8. Definitely at the moment the policy adopted for disengagement between two countries are the best solutions to avoid inevitable war between two .But the question still raises can we still believe on China which has a history of untrusty with all borders with neighbouring countries.Still our land are in their possession.The Kailash range on which extra Brave Indian Troops occupied on 29-30th August 2020 becomes a turning point but it needs a constant vigilence all times to come and talks should be resumed on all other borders point upto Arunachal Pradesh.The presence of betrayals as JaiChand are numerous here and our Government must watch their day to day activity by creating a new Wing of separate Deparatment to ha.ve a watch on them who are propakistani and Prochinese visible obiviously by their activities in all agitations who time time may give clues to those enemies.We trust Modi Government whole heartedly with faith to strengthen our young and coming generations so to remember our ancient culture and traditions and become Nationalists.Jai Hind Ki Sena

  9. It’s China who benefited the most because we have almost lost the pangongtso lake & further Laddakhi peoples have lost their pasture land to great extent !
    Lt General Joshi’s perception that China removing their infrastructure from our claim line does not meant that the said area belongs to us !!! As a matter of fact China got demarcated our position somewhere between finger 2 & 3 i e at the dead end of Pangongtso lake !!! Lt Gen Joshi’s assertion seems to have been scripted by his political masters !!! Jai Hind Jai Bharat !

  10. TS Darbari – Salute to our army. China is disengaging from the LAC and also taking back the message that India has far more friends in the world today. The last 24 hours have truly been PM Modi’s. The one thing the Chinese are surely taking back is the ill-will of a fellow Asian power, far poorer but strong in the knowledge that it has many more friends than Beijing does today.
    For this, we must salute the bravery of our army before giving the credit to the national policies. Though the army is bound to take action as per national policies and instructions of the central government, it does not mean that every credit goes the government. Since it is the bravery of these soldiers along the LAC that allowed the government to take strict actions against the Chinese government. If the army had not been strong enough, our government could never take this stand.
    Who is TS Darbari ? –
    TS Darbari is a top management professional, with several years of rich & diversified experience in Corporate Strategy, New Business Development, Sales & Marketing, Commercial Operations, Project Management, Financial Management and Strategic Alliances.
    #who_is_TS_Darbari #TS_Darbari #Ts_Darbari_Blog #TS_Darbari_News #Ts_Darbari_Views #Ts_Darbari_Blogger #TS_Darbari_Comments #Ts_Darbari_Opinion #About_TS_Darbari #TS_Darbari_Articles #Politics #Views #Comments #who_is_TS_Darbari #About_TS_Darbari

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