Fresh incursion by Chinese troops in Ladakh`s Demchok: Reports

Fresh incursion by Chinese troops in Ladakh`s Demchok: Fresh incursion was reported by China in the Demchok area of Ladakh in Jammu and Kashmir, reports said on Sunday.

Zee Media Bureau

New Delhi: Fresh incursion by China was reported in the Demchok area of Ladakh in Jammu and Kashmir, reports said on Sunday. It was reported that the Chinese herdsmen had pitched tents in the Demchok area of Ladakh, and they withdrew after talks between the two sides. The incident is reported to have taken place on July 22 at the Charding Nilu Nullah Junction in the Demchok sector along the Line of Actual Control. An Indian patrolling team was dispatched to the spot and later a China`s People`s Liberation Army team also reached there. The reports further said that a flag meeting between the commanders from both sides finally resulted in the Chinese agreeing to move back the herdsmen a day after. In the wake of the incursion, defence experts are of the view that Chinese incursion into India territory will continue unless there is a clear demarcation of border between India and China. Defence expert Uday Bhaskar said, "As an analyst, I have come to one conclusion that such incidents will continue. Unless you have a line, there would be this kind of testing each other`s presence." "We have seen a steady pattern of such reports that Chinese troops have been entering into India territory. The flipside is that there are reports from the other side that India troops are also entering into territories that are deemed Chinese," he added. Bhaskar also said ever since the Depsang incident, India and China has put in place a mechanism which is combination of military, diplomatic and political consultations depending on the nature of the incursion. He advocated that each of the incidents should be dealt in a standalone manner, first at a tactical level, and could then be referred to either military level or need be diplomatic level. Bhaskar further said that India must engage with the top Chinese leadership on this issue. Retired wing commander Praful Bakshi even warned that major intrusion from China can be expected in a month or so. "We can expect a major intrusion from China in a month or two so that they can assess our alertness, preparedness and readiness to cope the Chinese invasion. Apart from this we must strengthen our patrolling on the border," said Bakshi. "If the government hands over the command and control of the border forces in the hands of the army then we can feel that the government is serious about the matter. Otherwise there can be a confusion and lack of communication between the Army, which is under Defence Ministry and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), which reports to the Home Ministry," added Bakshi. He also warned that Pakistan, is constantly trying to take cues from China. "Chinese are technologically much superior to us and it will take us at least seven to eight years for us to match their capabilities," he added. Appreciating the government for taking proper measures to avoid Chinese incursions, Bakshi said, "Prime Minister Narendra Modi`s Government is leaving no stone unturned to resolve the matter. The new Government is considering the matter prudently and proactively and seems to have been taking serious steps, which is evident from the fact that Modi Government`s army chief has already visited China," said Bakshi. He further said that Chinese incursion into Indian Territory and erecting tents is a very common incident, and accused the erstwhile UPA Government of not taking any significant step to tackle this issue. He also said that the new government has conveyed the army regarding its rules of engagement. "The government has briefed army clearly about how it should tackle the matter, army should neither over react nor under react," said Bakshi. With Agency Inputs