According to sources the Indian Army has strengthened its dominance in over 20 strategic mountain heights around the northern and southern banks of Pangong Tso lake as well as in the extended general area of Chushul in the last few days even as freezing conditions are gripping the area.
The sources said the Army has made elaborate arrangements to maintain the current level of troops and weapons in all forward areas in eastern Ladakh and other sensitive high-altitude sectors in the harsh winter months when the temperature drops up to minus 25 degrees Celsius.
They said the situation remained tense in both southern and northern banks of the Pangong lake areas as well as in other friction points.
There have been at least three attempts by the Chinese People’s Liberation Army(PLA) to “intimidate” Indian troops along the northern and southern bank of Pangong lake area in the last three weeks where even shots were fired in the air for the first time at the LAC in 45 years.
Situation Deteriorated
The situation in eastern Ladakh deteriorated after China unsuccessfully attempted to occupy Indian territory in the southern bank of Pangong Lake on the intervening night of August 29 and 30.
On September 7, Chinese troops unsuccessfully attempted to close in on the Indian position and even fired shots in the air in the Mukhpari area of Rezang-La ridgeline on the southern bank of Pangong lake.
As Jaishankar and Wang were to hold talks in Moscow, the Chinese military resorted to firing a barrage of “warning shots” into the air on the North Bank of Pangong lake to “intimidate” the Indian troops, Army sources had said.
India occupied a number of strategic heights on the southern bank of Pangong lake and strengthened its presence in Finger 2 and Finger 3 areas in the region to thwart any Chinese actions.
China has been occupying the areas between Finger 4 and Finger 8. The mountain spurs in the area are called Fingers.
China has strongly objected to India’s move. However, India has maintained that the heights are on its side of the LAC.
