India deploys fighter jets squadron along Pakistan border for huge exercise
Shares
The Indian Air Force has initiated a 10-day exercise called "Trishul" along its northern borders with China and Pakistan in preparation for the upcoming G20 summit. This exercise, which runs until September 14, will take place in regions including Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, and Punjab, and will involve various aircraft, including fighter planes, transport aircraft, and helicopters.
India shares a lengthy, undemarcated border with China, known as the Line of Actual Control (LAC), spanning approximately 4,000 kilometers across the Himalayas. Additionally, India shares a 3,300-kilometer border with Pakistan, including the Line of Control in the disputed Kashmir region, as well as areas in the northern state of Punjab and the western Rajasthan and Gujarat states.
This military exercise coincides with New Delhi hosting the G20 leaders on September 9 and 10. The G20, consisting of 19 countries and the EU, addresses crucial global issues such as the economy, financial stability, climate change, and sustainable development. India holds the G20 presidency this year, and leaders like US President Joe Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau are expected to attend. However, Chinese President Xi Jinping is likely to skip the event, as reported by the media.
This exercise follows talks between Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the Brics Summit in Johannesburg, where they agreed to "intensify efforts" to resolve border tensions. Diplomatic relations between the two nations had become strained following clashes between their troops in the Himalayan Ladakh region in 2020, resulting in the loss of 24 soldiers. The 19th round of the India-China Corps Commander Level Meeting took place at the Chushul-Moldo border meeting point on the Indian side on August 13 and 14.
