Army Day: India’s desire for peace is born out of power, otherwise not to be mistaken, says MM Naravane
Highlight
- ‘Army stands to counter any attempt to unilaterally change the status quo on the country’s borders’
- India’s desire for peace is born out of strength, should not be wrong otherwise: Army Chief
- The armies of India and China are locked in a military standoff in eastern Ladakh since May 5, 2020
Army Chief General MM Naravane on Friday said that the Indian Army is determined to counter any attempt to unilaterally change the status quo on the country’s borders and that India’s desire for peace was born out of strength and it should not be taken for granted. needed. The Army Chief also said that differences in perceptions and disputes are best resolved through established norms based on the principle of equal and mutual security.
The armies of India and China have been locked in a military standoff in eastern Ladakh since May 5, 2020, following violent clashes in the Pangong Lake area.
The two countries have held 14 rounds of military-level talks to resolve the standoff.
“We are determined to counter any attempt to unilaterally change the status quo on our borders. Our response to such efforts has been swift, calibrated and decisive, as seen when the situation demanded,” Naravane said in his speech on the eve of Army Day.
Naravane said the army has put in place additional security measures to prevent any further attempts at the military verge.
“We believe that differences in perceptions and disputes are best resolved through established norms based on the principle of equal and mutual security,” he noted.
“Our desire for peace and tranquility is born out of our inherent strength. It should not be mistaken otherwise,” he said.
Institutional mechanisms and security measures to counter state-sponsored terrorism have been strengthened across borders and hinterland, Naravane noted.
He said that these mechanisms and security measures have proved effective in reducing the level of violence.
“Our actions have demonstrated our ability and willingness to strike at the source of terrorism,” the army chief said.
He said that over the past year, the Indian Army has fulfilled its responsibilities fully and is determined to safeguard the security and territorial integrity of the nation.
He said that India’s active borders were defended with determination and flexibility.
Naravane said, “Our brave officers, JCOs (Junior Commissioned Officers) and soldiers have faced adversity and adversity with courage and grit to the extent of sacrificing their lives in the highest traditions of the Indian Army.”
He said that the Indian Army remains at a high level of operational readiness to meet the ongoing and future challenges.
Following the violent clash on May 5, 2020, both Indian and Chinese armies gradually increased their deployment to tens of thousands of soldiers as well as heavy weapons.
As a result of a series of military and diplomatic talks, the two sides last year completed the demilitarization process on the northern and southern shores of Pangong Lake and in the Gogra region. Each side currently has around 50,000 to 60,000 troops along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the sensitive area.
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