General Manoj Pande reaches Ladakh sector to review security situation

New Delhi: The newly appointed Chief of the Army Staff General Manoj Pande is on a visit to the Ladakh sector of the Northern Command to take stock of the prevailing security situation and operational preparedness. This is his maiden visit to the frontier areas along LAC after becoming the Army Chief.

The Indian Army said in a tweet, "General Manoj Pande #COAS is on a visit to #Ladakh Sector to review the prevailing security situation & operational preparedness."

The Army Chief was briefed on the security situation along the borders with a special focus on Eastern Ladakh. The high level of operational readiness being maintained by the forces while maintaining a high tempo of capability development was highlighted.

Later, General Manoj Pande, Chief of Army Staff accompanied by Lieutenant General Upendra Dwivedi, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Northern Command and Lieutenant General A Sengupta, General Officer Commanding, Fire and Fury Corps called on RK Mathur, Hon'ble Lieutenant Governor of Union Territory of Ladakh. This was followed by a detailed discussion on issues related to Civil-Military cooperation and the role of the Indian Army in developmental activities in the Union Territory of Ladakh.

During his three day visit to Ladakh, General Manoj Pande will visit forward areas in Eastern Ladakh and interact with troops deployed along the Line of Actual Control in the most difficult and inhospitable terrain in the world.

In a press interaction this week, Gen Manoj Pande had said China's intent is to keep the boundary issue alive. He said a 'whole of nation' approach was needed to tackle China, and it will prevent and counter any attempt to alter the status quo at the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

Tension has been prevailing along LAC in Ladakh region as in June 2020 the Galwan Valley had witnessed one of the worst violent clashes between the Armies of India and China in 45 years in which 20 Indian soldiers were killed. It led to a military standoff between the two countries.

15 rounds of Corps Commander-level talks between India and China have taken place to date to end the 22-month standoff.

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