India makes 'heavy deployments' in Ladakh in response to increased Chinese presence: Report

Representative Image (REUTERS/Danish Ismail)

Indian has reportedly made “heavy deployments” of army personnel and tank regiments to the Depsang and Daulat Beg Oldi (DBO) plains in Ladakh. This came as a response to China’s People Liberation Army (PLA) moving over 17,000 troops and armoured vehicles to the areas.

"We have done very heavy deployment of troops and tanks in DBO and Depsang plains, including the T-90 regiments which are part of an armoured division," government sources told ANI.

Moneycontrol could not independently verify the report.

Indian deployments are made from Patrolling Point 1 near the Karakoram Pass (PP-3) to Depsang plains. Chinese troops occupy the area opposite and have blocked PP-10 to PP-13 since April-May. They have now gathered over 17,000 troops here, they added.

Prior to Chinese movement in the region, India had stationed a mountain brigade and armoured brigade in the area, but has now moved in over 15,000 personnel to the region by air and road, the sources added. “Armoured deployment is such that the Chinese would find it difficult to operate there, in case, they try out any misadventure,” they said.

The Chinese have intention to build a road from their TWD battalion headquarters opposite the DBO sector to the Karakoram pass and connect their battalions – a development that has been prevented on previous occasions as well.

For example a small bridge built by Chinese army inside Indian territory on a drain near PP-7 and PP-8, which was broken by Indian soldiers some years back, sources pointed out.

If constructed, the new road would reduce time required by Chinese units to traverse the distance to a couple of hours against the current 15-hour drive via Highway G219 within their territory, they noted.

India currently holds a position of strength in the area and is “not in a hurry” to discuss the issue with the Chinese. “Let the disengagement first take place and then we can talk about de-escalation there also,” sources said.

Notably, China has not honoured their commitment to disengage from the Finger area and now want to build an observation post at Finger 5 – a move that India has opposed.