Indian Army is reportedly planning to dual-task some of its fighting formations which would allow them to tackle both China and Pakistan. The strategy comes amid the ongoing conflict with PLA in Eastern Ladakh.
Until recently, the fighting formations were mainly focused towards the Pakistan border as the Line of Actual Control with China remained peaceful.
Heavier operational preparedness towards the Western border is evident as there are three offensive Strike Corps deployed while only one offensive Mountain Strike Corps has been raised for the Northern borders.
"There will be no need to raise any additional forces or a new strike corps in view of the ongoing conflict. The existing fighting formations can be given dual-tasking to look after both fronts," government sources told ANI.
Army headquarters is considering different proposals in this regard and suggestions have also been sought from the different Army commanders in order to further enhance preparedness on the LAC, they said.
The way these formations could be dual-tasked would be decided as per the discussions and decisions based on them, sources told ANI.
The Strike Corps on the western front including the 21 Strike Corps in Bhopal along with the Strike One in Mathura and the Kharga Corps in Ambala are heavily armoured and have their formations located all over the western, central and northern sector Including some of which are very close to the China border.
The 1.3 million large force's reorientation would be a major exercise and it will expectedly prepare the defence forces for a two-front war in real senses, the sources said.
A large number of the armoured element from Central and western India have been brought in by the Indian Army due to the on-going border conflict with China.
Indian Army's T-90s, BMPs and T-72s have been deployed heavily to more than match the Chinese presence opposite the Ladakh sector.
Additionally, over three Indian Army Mountain Divisions are deployed in the Eastern Ladakh sector to counter around 60,000 Chinese troops in that area.
India and China have been engaged in the border skirmish since April in Eastern Ladakh and the deployments have been raised significantly in other sectors too along the entire LAC.
