Outgoing Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi on Monday said the situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China remains stable but sensitive, emphasising that sustained military engagement and established border management mechanisms have helped maintain peace and prevent misunderstandings.
In an interaction with ANI, General Dwivedi said the disengagement agreements reached between the two sides have contributed significantly to improving stability on the ground, with both militaries displaying greater responsiveness to each other’s concerns.
He noted that the broader India-China relationship witnessed encouraging developments during 2024-25, reflected in increased military and diplomatic engagement. Among the positive developments, he cited the establishment of an Experts Group on boundary delimitation, a Working Group on border management, the resumption of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra and direct flights, consensus on reopening border trade through designated passes, and visa facilitation measures.
Highlighting military-level engagement, the Army Chief said the Indian and Chinese militaries conduct more than 1,100 ground-level interactions every year to address routine border management issues and prevent misunderstandings.
General Dwivedi said the overall situation along the LAC is managed through established mechanisms, including military-to-military interactions, hotlines, flag meetings and commander-level talks, which help address local issues arising from differing perceptions of the LAC and facilitate routine activities such as patrolling.
He said the Indian Army’s priorities remain preserving peace and tranquillity along the LAC, resolving local issues through dialogue and established mechanisms, and maintaining a robust and credible deployment posture to deter any potential threat.
The Army Chief added that the force continues to strengthen infrastructure, logistics, surveillance capabilities and operational preparedness along the northern borders while remaining committed to engagement and dialogue. However, he stressed that India’s approach is based on “peace through strength” and that the Army will continue to maintain a firm, vigilant and credible posture to safeguard the country’s territorial integrity and national interests.
-ANI
