Kolkata: Eastern Army Commander, Lieutenant General M. M. Naravane, today, issued a stern warning against China. He reminded that the Indian Army now is not the same as it was in 1962 and reminded that it was China who was caught off guard during the Dokalam stand-off.
While speaking at an interaction on ‘Defending our borders’ at Bharat Chamber of Commerce in Kolkata, Naravanae said, “We are no longer the Army of 1962 & if China says, ‘don’t forget history’, we’ve to also tell them the same thing. I don’t see 1962 as a black mark on the Army at all. All Army units fought well, did their assigned tasks.”
He added, “It was China which was caught unprepared in the Dokalam standoff. They thought they would get away by being a regional bully, but we stood up to the bully. It shows that we are capable of taking on any threat.”
Speaking about the build-ups at Dokalam by the Chinese, the Lieutenant General said that India has kept up with the developments done at the Chinese side. When the Chinese made two barracks the Indian side also made two barracks. When they maintained the roads on their side of the border, we also maintained our roads.
Naravane also said that the 1962 was a political debacle and said that the Army has come a long way after that conflict.
With India abrogating Article 370 and claiming Pakistan occupied Kashmir and Aksai Chin, the Chinese have become jittery. They have openly supported Pakistan in its bid to internationalize the Kashmir issue. However, India has gained an international support for its decision and the world community has snubbed Pakistan.
China which claims the Aksai Chin area of India will not go down easily. They have always mounted pressure along the boundary areas that are contested. Even when political diplomacy is going on the Peoples Liberation Army of China has repeatedly raised the stakes at the boundary.
The recent skirmish at Dokalam is a case in point. The area is a tri junction of three countries that are India, China, and Bhutan. China resorted to construct a road along the territory which is disputed area. When Bhutanese Army raised objection India too intervened in the case.
