Thursday, Apr 25, 2024 | Last Update : 06:50 PM IST
Escalation along LAC possible, says Subhash Bhamre
The 4,000-km border between the two nations is referred to as the Line of Actual Control.
New Delhi: Minister of state for defence Subhash Bhamre said on Thursday that the border situation with China was still “sensitive” and it “has the potential to escalate”.
“At the Line of Actual Control, the situation is sensitive as incidents of patrolling, transgression and standoffs have a potential of escalation,” he said, referring to the about 4,000-km-long border with China, that of late has seen confrontations between the militaries of the two Asian giants like the 73-day Doklam standoff which had ended on August 28.
The 4,000-km border between the two nations is referred to as the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
“While confidence-building measures are being enhanced, we shall continue to take all action deemed necessary to ensure the sanctity of the LAC,” Mr Bhamre said addressing a seminar on the Army’s contribution to nation-building.
Military sources said China still has a big presence of troops and has ramped up its infrastructure in the north Doklam area after the standoff. Doklam is located near the trijunction of India’s Sikkim, Bhutan and China.
In January, Army Chief Gen. Bipin Rawat had said the time had come for India to shift its focus from the border with Pakistan to the frontier with China, indicating that the situation along it was worrying.
Talking about the regi-onal security situation, Mr Bhamre also talked about the likelihood of Pakistan becoming a “conduit” for the spread of ISIS ideologies to countries like India.
He said the rising instability in India’s neighbourhood had increased the possibility of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction to non-state actors. “Today, we are facing a difficult neighbourhood with myriad security challenges. Ceasefire violations along the Line of Control continues to target the Army and civilians. The situation in the hinterland in Jammu and Kashmir remains a challenge,” he said.
On the rise of religious fundamentalism and its spread through the social media, Mr Bhamre said: “We need to continue with firm action to negate, mitigate and destroy elements inimical to our security.”
