LEH: Indian fighter jets roared over a flashpoint Himalayan regionWednesday as part of a show of strength following what military sources sayhas been a Chinese takeover of contested territory.
Chinese forces have held onto a chunk of land covering several squarekilometres (miles) at the mouth of the Galwan valley following a deadlybrawl there on June 15, the Indian military sources told *AFP*.
The two sides publicly declared they would pull back following the clash,which saw 20 Indian soldiers killed in a battle involving rocks andnail-studded batons.
But both have maintained troops around the valley, with India deployingmore forces and trying to project military might.
Indian jets regularly took off Wednesday from a military base in Leh, themain Indian town in the contested region, and headed towards themountainous border 240 kilometres (150 miles) away.
There were also checkpoints on main roads out Leh and a frenzy of militaryactivity around the main town, which lies at 3,500 metres (11,500 feet).
Residents reported long lines of military trucks and artillery on roadsnear Leh.
“We now have a good strength present in the area,” an official of theIndian army’s Northern Command told *AFP* on condition of anonymity,referring to the reinforcements.
Tashi Chhepal, a retired Indian army captain who has served in the area andis based in Leh, said the mobilisation was unprecedented in a sensitiveregion touching Pakistan as well as China.
“I haven’t seen this kind of military movement before,” he told *AFP*.China gains
After the latest round of talks between military commanders on Monday,Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said the two sides had”agreed to take necessary measures to promote a cooling of the situation”.
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But they made similar comments after a fist-fight in May that proved to bea warmup for the medieval-style battle at Galwan.
Images taken on Sunday by the US satellite firm Maxar showed trucks andhuts at camps on the river at 4,500 metres (15,000 feet) near the scene ofthe fighting. It was not clear whose army they were.
The two countries fought a border war in 1962 but this month’s fighting wastheir deadliest encounter in 53 years.
According to Indian military sources, Chinese troops ambushed Indiansoldiers and forced them down a ridge where they had gone to remove aChinese “encroachment”.
A bilateral accord prevents the use of guns, but the fighting was stillfierce, reportedly with rocks and batons wrapped with barbed wire.
China has in turn accused Indian soldiers of twice crossing the Line ofActual Control, the unofficial boundary, provoking its troops.
But the Chinese appear to be sticking to their gains at Galwan and thenearby Pangong Tso lake, police intelligence as well as military sourcestold *AFP.*
China is now claiming the valley as its own, in statements that India hasrejected. – APP/AFP
