Indian Army places tanks along LAC amid stand-off with China

A video released recently showed Indian army tanks and armoured personnel carriers placed in forward locations in eastern Ladakh at the site of the face-off with China since April-May.

The videos were shared by news agency ANI, which stated that all visuals had been cleared by a “competent authority on the ground”.

The videos show rows of T-90 tanks and BMP vehicles in Chumar-Demchock. Speculations have risen that this is possibly the highest deployed tank formation anywhere in the world.

This comes after India repeatedly stressed on the need to ensure “stability on the ground” after the most recent incident of “Chinese provocation” on August 31. The Chinese soldiers had tried to move in on the Indian side of the Line of Actual Control near the south bank of Ladakh’s Pangong Lake.

On the night of August 29 and August 30, the Chinese had moved their tanks and troops at night, in violation of confidence building measures that ban military movements at night. On August 31, more troop movements took place when ground commanders of the two sides held discussions to disengage the troops.

The army is now planning to strengthen security in the whole area.

#WATCH Indian Army deploys T-90 & T-72 tanks along with BMP-2 Infantry Combat Vehicles that can operate at temperatures up to minus 40 degree Celsius, near Line of Actual Control in Chumar-Demchok area in Eastern Ladakh.

Note: All visuals cleared by competent authority on ground pic.twitter.com/RiRBv4sMud

— ANI (@ANI) September 27, 2020

”Fire and Fury Corps is the only formation of Indian Army and also in the world to have actually deployed mechanised forces in such harsh terrain. Maintenance of tanks, infantry combat vehicles and heavy guns is a challenge in this terrain,” NDTV quoted Major General Arvind Kapoor, the Chief of Staff of 14 Corps, as saying.

“Winter in Ladakh is going to be harsh. We’re absolutely in control as far as advanced winter stocking and forward winter stocking is concerned. High calorific and nutritious ration, fuel and oil, winter clothing and heating appliances are all available in adequate numbers,” he added.

Winters in Ladakh going to be harsh. We're absolutely in control as far as advanced winter stocking&forward winter stocking is concerned. High calorific&nutritious ration,fuel&oil,winter clothing&heating appliances all available in adequate numbers: Chief of Staff,14 Corps to ANI pic.twitter.com/DFhtBwi9c3

— ANI (@ANI) September 27, 2020

The BMP vehicles can function in temperatures of up to minus 40 degrees Celsius.

China has also augmented its fire-power in high-altitude areas of Ladakh. Earlier this month, a video of a military exercise at the high-altitude Tibet Autonomous Region was tweeted by the editor of Global Times. The video, which showed an array of multi-barrel rocket launchers in action, came hours ahead of talks between foreign ministers of the two nations.