Galwan standoff will not be severe, says former Brigadier

Speaking to ETV Bharat defence expert and former Army Brigadier Sanal Kumar explained the reasons behind the worst clash between the Indian Army and Chinese soldiers after 45 years in which India lost 20 its soldiers in Ladakh's Galwan Valley region.

Thiruvananthapuram: The current India-China standoff in Galwan Valley along the border is not expected to worsen, said defence expert and former Army Brigadier Sanal Kumar in an exclusive interview with ETV Bharat, here on Wednesday.

"Though we have arms and ammunition, the political leadership of the two countries have strategised the system, for a long time in such a way that the soldiers must not engage in an armed battle now. This is being practised as a national policy to avoid any escalation of the conflict. The rest of the discussions happen in political and diplomatic levels," Brigadier Kumar said.

He further said that the Army jawans mostly follow prevention tactics though hits and pushes cannot be avoided when the uncontested territory along the border suddenly becomes a matter of contest.

Explaining about the intention behind fierce fight in Galwan Valley following a de-escalation arrangement, he pointed out three reasons:

1. The fierce fight happened principally because of China's discomfort. Firstly, China is not happy at the sight of basic infrastructure being facilitated by India for its Army.

2. Secondly, the change in the status of Jammu & Kashmir has created nervousness among both China and Pakistan. However, India has told that dispute nature of erstwhile state remains which needs to be settled through negotiation.

3. Thirdly, this is measure is taken by China to demonstrate their support to closest ally Pakistan.

"With the road access and improvement in the general conditions, the military effectiveness in the belt will increase the capability by many folds. This could be why China objects such a move, and it could also be timed now as they think India is already weak with the COVID pandemic, while China is already on a comeback mode," Kumar said.

Galwan was never a matter of contest along China border. However, China’s present provocative move is on seeing the military effectiveness, said Brigadier Kumar.

Commenting on situation arising in Nepal, he said: "Nepal is going through a very difficult political turning and that will take time to stabilise. It is easy to blame India as the nation share open-border with Nepal. There is a domestic turmoil for which we should wait for it to settle down."

"China essentially wants the power differential between the two countries to remain constant as India seems to catching the difference. This is making China nervous and therefore they are trying that the difference in power remains," Brigadier Kumar added.