In a step which will further enhance India’s preparedness for a two-frontwar scenario, the Indian Army is discussing proposals to create dual-taskformations. These formations will simultaneously look after both thePakistan and China borders.
The proposals are part of the discussions that are going on within theservices to further enhance their preparedness along the border with Chinain view of the ongoing military standoff.
“There will be no need to raise any additional forces or a new strike corpsin view of the ongoing conflict. The existing fighting formations can begiven dual-tasking to look after both fronts,” top government sources toldIndia Today.
The need for rebalancing the troops’ focus on the two borders has beennecessitated in the wake of the Chinese border becoming an active zonesince April-May, and just like the Pakistan front, a large deployment isrequired there as well. Secondly, there has been deepening of military tiesbetween China and Pakistan in the Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir areas.
Different proposals in this regard are being considered by the Armyheadquarters and suggestions have also been sought from the different Armycommanders. A need to further enhance preparedness along the Line of ActualControl (LAC) has been felt, the sources said in the view of changingdynamics on the frontiers.
The way these formations could be made dual tasked would be decided as perthe discussions and decisions based on them, the sources said.
The Strike Corps on the western front including the 21 Strike Corps inBhopal along with the Strike One in Mathura and the Kharga Corps in Ambalaare heavy-armoured and have their formations located all over the western,central and northern sector. Some of them are very close to the Chinaborder.ADVERTISEMENT
The reorientation of the fighting formations of the 1.3 million-force wouldbe a major exercise. It is expected to prepare the defence forces for atwo-front war in real senses, the sources said.
The BMPs, T-90s and T-72s of the Indian Army have been deployed heavily tomore than match the Chinese presence opposite the Ladakh sector.Three Indian Army Mountain Divisions are additionally deployed in theeastern Ladakh sector against around 60,000 Chinese troops in that area.India and China have been engaged in a military standoff about eight monthsin eastern Ladakh. The deployments have gone up significantly in othersectors too along the entire LAC.
Source: India todaylink