At the Chanakya Defence Dialogue, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Manoj Pande delivered remarks indicating that the border situation remains stable despite the prolonged border dispute between India and China in eastern Ladakh. This statement comes in the context of the lingering standoff in certain friction points in eastern Ladakh, where India and China have been engaged in a tense situation for more than three years.
General Pande emphasized the significance of victory markers in the land domain, especially in cases involving disputed or contested borders. He underscored the importance of enhancing outcomes and achieving integration with the other two services and various agencies.
India and China have made progress in disengagement from several areas through extensive diplomatic and military discussions, but India continues to emphasize the necessity for peace in the border regions for normalized relations with China.
General Pande also noted the evolving global landscape, highlighting the centrality of national interests in international affairs and the changing dynamics of the world.
Moreover, he mentioned that the first batch of 40,000 Agniveers has joined the units, with positive feedback from the field.
The Army chief emphasized the importance of proactivity in addressing various national security challenges. He discussed the Army's focus on force restructuring, technology integration, structural reforms, joint operations, and human resource management as part of broader reforms, with a significant emphasis on leveraging modern technology.
Furthermore, General Pande pointed out that lessons from the Russia-Ukraine war underscored the enduring importance of land warfare, especially in situations involving disputed borders. Importantly, he stressed the need for self-reliance in military hardware, drawing on these lessons.
The Chanakya Defence Dialogue, an innovative initiative by the Indian Army, provides a crucial platform for discussing and sharing insights on critical security matters, enhancing the country's strategic awareness. The event, which commenced recently, features distinguished speakers from India and abroad, including figures like Dr. Arvind Virmani from Niti Aayog, Professor Ajay Kumar Sood, the Principal Scientific Advisor (PSA) to the Government of India, and AS Kiran Kumar, the former ISRO chairman, among others.
