ITANAGAR: Defence Minister, Rajnath Singh, accompanied by Army Chief Gen Manoj Pande, undertook a comprehensive review of India’s military preparedness along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Arunachal Pradesh, on Tuesday.
During his visit, he commended the troops for their “unwavering commitment and unparalleled courage in guarding the border”.
Defence Minister Singh visited various forward posts, including Bum-La, where he interacted with the soldiers. Speaking to the troops, he expressed his appreciation, saying, “No amount of appreciation is enough for the way you are guarding the border in difficult circumstances. I want to tell you that the people of the country are proud of you.”
Singh also celebrated Dussehra with the soldiers at a military base close to the LAC, highlighting the need to strengthen India’s security apparatus given the current global scenario. His visit comes at a time when India and China have been embroiled in a bitter standoff in eastern Ladakh for over three years.
He also visited the Tawang war memorial, where he paid his respects to the soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice during the 1962 war with China.
Tawang holds significant strategic importance and has been a focus of India’s military infrastructure development in recent years. Notably, Indian and Chinese troops clashed along the LAC in the Tawang sector on December 9 the previous year.
Rajnath Singh highlighted the ongoing efforts to strengthen India’s military prowess through indigenous production of defence equipment. He pointed out the shift from reliance on imports to domestic production, with foreign companies encouraged to share technology and produce equipment in India.
“In 2014, the value of defence exports was about Rs 1,000 crore, but today we are exporting defence equipment worth thousands of crores,” he added.
He also reflected on India’s rising global stature, attributing it to the success in the economic sphere and the dedication of the armed forces. Singh noted that India’s global recognition wouldn’t have been possible without the effective guarding of its borders.
Rajnath Singh was briefed on the infrastructure development along the LAC and the deployment of cutting-edge military equipment to enhance operational efficiency.
The India-China border standoff in eastern Ladakh, which has persisted for over three years, remains a focal point in India’s foreign policy. India has underscored that normalized ties with China depend on peace in the border areas.
To bolster security, the Indian Army has significantly increased troop deployment and weaponry along the nearly 3,500 km-long LAC, including the Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh sectors.
