The new chief of the Indian Army, General Manoj Pandey, said on Sunday that the country’s defense is at the top and I am ready to tackle any challenge. Talking about China also, General Manoj Pandey said that the process of dialogue between India and China is going on. We believe that there will be a way forward as well. However, during this time he also said that wrong actions on LAC will not be tolerated.
Actually, as soon as he took office, the army chief has bluntly told China. He did say that we are confident that as we continue to talk to the other side, we will find a solution to the ongoing issues. But at the same time he also said that wrong actions on LAC will not be tolerated. He said that in the last two years, we have greatly strengthened our deployment on the border with China.
#WATCH , We are very clear that we will not permit any change in the status quo and any loss of territory: Army Chief General Manoj Pandey to ANI on the India-China border issue pic.twitter.com/OzUyUSkcJJ
— ANI (@ANI) May 1, 2022
General Manoj Pandey also said that we have deployed additional troops on the China border. It is our best effort to maintain the old situation in Ladakh. Indian troops are in important positions and will not allow any change in status quo or any loss of territory. Describing the situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) as normal, he said the Indian Army has responded adequately to unilateral and provocative actions by China to change the status quo by force.
He also told news agency ANI that additional equipment and troops have been inducted in the border areas. At the same time, our focus has also been on development of infrastructure to meet the logistic requirements. He further said that his aim is to de-escalate the tension along the LAC and restore the status quo at the earliest.
He further said that I know the other two army chiefs very well. This is a good start of synergy, cooperation and joint skilling between the three services. I assure that all three of us will work together and take things forward for national security and defence. Apart from this, he said that my effort will be to take advantage of new technologies through the process of indigenization and ‘Self-reliant India’.
Earlier, General Manoj Pandey took charge as the new Army Chief on Saturday. General Pandey took over from General Naravane at a briefing ceremony in South Block. He was General M.M. Pandey has become the 29th Army Chief after Naravane’s retirement. Naravane has retired on Saturday itself.