Situation along LAC stable but requires constant monitoring: Army Chief

Referring to the situation along the disputed boundary with China, Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi said on Tuesday that the situation remains “stable but needs constant monitoring.”

Speaking at the annual press conference ahead of Army Day on January 15, he added, “Situation at northern front remains stable but needs constant monitoring. Our deployment along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) remains balanced.”

In October 2024, India and China agreed to a patrolling arrangement along Depsang in Eastern Ladakh, ending the military standoff that began in April 2020. Since then, the Special Representatives of India and China — National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi — have met twice and agreed to work towards demarcating the boundary.

Meanwhile, the Army Chief said Operation Sindoor, launched in May last year to strike at terrorist camps in Pakistan, is ongoing and that “any misadventure would be responded to.”

Addressing nuclear rhetoric during skirmishes with Pakistan, he clarified, “There was no mention of nuclear during the talks the two DGMO’s had during that period.”

“The nuclear rhetoric was being pushed by the political class,” the Army Chief said, without naming the Pakistan leadership that had been brandishing the threat.

Referring to post-May 10 developments, when the cessation of hostilities was announced, General Dwivedi said some forward mobilisation was pulled back by the end of May, “but our eyes and ears are open.”

On the future of the Army, he said integration is underway and progress is being made towards theatre commands. “By 2026, we will have an Indian Army capable of striking deep,” he added, highlighting significant upgrades and restructuring of forces.

He also detailed new raisings, including Bhairav light commando battalions, Shaktibaan regiments, Divyaastra artillery batteries, and Ashni platoons.