Army Chief General MM Naravane on Tuesday said that though India is hopeful of finding a peaceful solution to the ongoing military standoff in Ladakh, the Indian troops are ready for any eventuality along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
"India is hopeful that the border confrontation with China in eastern Ladakh will find a peaceful solution but the Army is also prepared for any eventuality," General Naravane said while addressing an annual press conference in New Delhi.
He also said that the Indian Army is on high alert not only in Eastern Ladakh but across the Northern Border with China.
"We have gone into a winter deployment situation... We (India and China) will reach amicable solutions. However, we are ready to meet any eventuality," he said.
General Naravane said that last year the Army had to walk the talk to meet the challenges and the force did so successfully.
"First biggest challenge was Covid and the next was the situation at the northern border," he said.
He also said there was no cause of concern on the logistical issues and the force's operational preparedness is of high order. "Morale of the troops is high," General Naravane said.
"The situation at the Line of Actual Control is the same as it was last year. The status quo remains the same. We have received directions from the government to remain in the same position where we are deployed at the friction point.
"There is no change in the deployment in the friction area in Eastern Ladakh," said the Army Chief.
"There is no decrease in the number of troops in the friction areas," said the Army Chief
"In-depth area of the Tibet region, every year Chinese People's Liberation Army troops come for training and after training, they leave. Troops from some training areas have been vacated.
India and China are engaged in a nine-month-long standoff at the LAC in Eastern Ladakh. Despite several levels of dialogue, there has not been any breakthrough and the deadlock continues.
