India has no plans to scale down its troop presence along the northern frontier this winter, Army Chief Upendra Dwivedi confirmed on Monday, emphasizing the need for vigilance. However, he hinted that summer deployments would hinge on the progress of ongoing negotiations with China.
Tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors have simmered since a deadly clash in 2020 that claimed the lives of 20 Indian and four Chinese soldiers. The skirmishes prompted both nations to halt patrolling at several contentious points in Ladakh, while significantly bolstering their military presence in the icy, inhospitable terrain.
While an agreement reached last October led to a partial withdrawal of forces, the border remains a focal point of mistrust. Dwivedi underscored that winter typically sees a reduction in troop numbers, but this year, India’s stance is firm. “For the winter strategy, we are not considering any troop reductions,” he stated during a press briefing in New Delhi.
The army chief added that summer deployment plans would be revisited based on the outcome of diplomatic engagements. “The summer strategy will depend on how many negotiations and meetings have taken place by then,” he noted.
The India-China border, a jagged line across the Himalayas, has long been a source of friction, including a brief but brutal war in 1962. Although ties improved following a series of agreements from 1991 onwards, the 2020 clashes reignited tensions, casting a shadow over decades of diplomatic and trade progress. For now, India’s icy resolve reflects its commitment to safeguarding its sovereignty.
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