AgenciesNew Delhi: With a focus on India-China disengagement in Hot Spring, Gogra and Depsang plains, the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) will guard the Dhan Singh Thapa post near Finger 3 along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), said people aware of the matter. As the Indian Army withdraws its troops, ITBP will take over the forward areas along the LAC, they said.
“Once Army withdrawal is completed, ITBP will resume its patrolling duties and take over the forward areas,” said a senior official, who did not wish to be identified. According to the agreement, fullscale patrolling would be resumed only after the military and diplomatic talks between the two sides. India shares a 3,488-km border with China which runs along the states of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh, and the Union Territory of Ladakh. ITBP is the border guarding force at the India-China border. During the nine-month stand-off, ITBP made additional deployment in all three sectors – western, eastern and middle.
“We are monitoring the situation at the border and may rotate our forces in the coming days,” an ITBP official said on condition of anonymity. The disengagement process, started early this month, has been completed on both banks of the Pangong Lake. The two sides pulled back troops, tanks and military equipment from the banks of Pangong Tso, which became a flashpoint in the prolonged border dispute. To strengthen the security forces deployed at the border, the government recently expedited several infrastructure projects along the LAC.
The Cabinet Committee on Security approved creation of 18 border patrol tracks in Arunachal Pradesh. Last year, the home ministry allocated Rs 12,435 crore for expediting construction of 32 roads on India-China border under Phase-2. China, according to India, is in illegal occupation of 38,000 sq km area in Ladakh and claims 90,000 sq km in Arunachal Pradesh. The undemarcated LAC has been a constant source of tension but both sides have managed it well through a bunch of protocols enshrined in the 1993 and 1996 peace and tranquillity agreements.
“Once Army withdrawal is completed, ITBP will resume its patrolling duties and take over the forward areas,” said a senior official, who did not wish to be identified. According to the agreement, fullscale patrolling would be resumed only after the military and diplomatic talks between the two sides. India shares a 3,488-km border with China which runs along the states of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh, and the Union Territory of Ladakh. ITBP is the border guarding force at the India-China border. During the nine-month stand-off, ITBP made additional deployment in all three sectors – western, eastern and middle.
“We are monitoring the situation at the border and may rotate our forces in the coming days,” an ITBP official said on condition of anonymity. The disengagement process, started early this month, has been completed on both banks of the Pangong Lake. The two sides pulled back troops, tanks and military equipment from the banks of Pangong Tso, which became a flashpoint in the prolonged border dispute. To strengthen the security forces deployed at the border, the government recently expedited several infrastructure projects along the LAC.
The Cabinet Committee on Security approved creation of 18 border patrol tracks in Arunachal Pradesh. Last year, the home ministry allocated Rs 12,435 crore for expediting construction of 32 roads on India-China border under Phase-2. China, according to India, is in illegal occupation of 38,000 sq km area in Ladakh and claims 90,000 sq km in Arunachal Pradesh. The undemarcated LAC has been a constant source of tension but both sides have managed it well through a bunch of protocols enshrined in the 1993 and 1996 peace and tranquillity agreements.
Read More News on
Download The Economic Times News App to get Daily Market Updates & Live Business News.