Ladakh: Army Build Up, Tension Escalates At India-China Border

NEW DELHI: The Indian Army denied the reports of an Indian patrol party of the army and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) were detained and later released by Chinese forces in Ladakh after clashes between the two sides in Ladakh earlier this week. A high tension has been created along the Line of Actual Control between the two countries.

It is said that the Indian forces have explained the Prime Minister's office about the events that took place near Pangong lake. According to the sources, the Chinese had managed to enter the Indian territory and are also conducting aggressive patrols with motorboats in the Pangong lake. A senior official asserted that it was a massive build-up but now things have calmed down a bit, but it's not over yet. He further added that, "China has erected tents on three different locations along the Galwan."

Earlier this month, on May 5th, many Indian and Chinese troops clashed with iron rods, sticks, and even pelted stones in the Pangong Tso lake area of Ladakh and sustained injuries. Later, on May 9th, nearly 150 Indian and Chinese soldiers were engaged in a face-off near Naku La Pass in the Sikkim sector. 

Chinese military is sending a signal that it is not in a mood to end its confrontation with the Indian army anytime soon. It is fast increasing the presence of its troops in areas around Pangong Tso lake and Galwan valley along the Line of Actual Control in Ladakh.

In the last week, local commanders of both sides conducted meetings during which the Indian Army took strong note of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) erecting a large number of tents in areas in Galwan Valley which India felt belonged to its side of the LAC.

India and China don't have a well-defined border and it is common for the Chinese and Indian troops to engage in face-off but not even a bullet has been fired in the past four years.