New Delhi: Stating that both borders including Northern and Western are equally significant, Indian Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane on Saturday said that the advanced weapons systems are being deployed and infrastructure being improved along the Chinese border.
“At one point of time it (advanced weapon system) was more towards the Western front (Pakistan). Now we think both borders are equally important. It is in that context that the rebalance is taking place,” Gen Naravane said during his maiden press conference after assuming the charge of Indian Army chief.
He also emphasized on balancing of the threat along the eastern front. The Army Chief vouched on capacity building like roads, habitat, and storage for ammunition in the East.
For Siachen, he termed it is strategically important. “That is one area which faces the western and northern fronts... we should not lose sight that it’s one place where collusivity can happen. So we should keep control.”
He said as far as land borders were concerned Siachen was where China and Pakistan were the closest. “So the chance for collusivity here is the most. Here and in Shaksgam valley,” he stated.
On being asked about skirmish at borders, he said that the issues are being resolved at local levels post Wuhan Summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping two years ago.
“After the strategic guidelines, small differences are sorted locally and not allowed to escalate,'' he added.
In an effort to bring peace and tranquilly along the borders, Gen Naravane said all the issues have been resolved between the two sides to set up a military hotline between Indian Army’s Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) and Western Theatre Command (WTC) of the Chinese People's Liberation Army.
In response to a question about simultaneous two-front war with China and Pakistan, Gen Naravane said the Army was conscious of the fact that India has threats “both on the western and northern side.”
“In case of a simultaneous threat, there would be a ‘primary front’ and a ‘secondary front’”, he said.
