Oct 28, 2014
NEW DELHI: Arunachal Pradesh, much like eastern Ladakh, continues to be a major flashpoint between India and China, with Indian troops recently blocking attempts by the People's Liberation Army soldiers to once again construct a road in the Asaphila region.
While the Asaphila incident did not lead to a prolonged military face-off, unlike the serious ones at Chumar and Demchok in eastern Ladakh last month, it's an indication of the continuing shadow-boxing between the two countries all along the 4,057-km long Line of Actual Control.
Both armies undertake regular patrols to lay claim to "8-10 disputed areas" like Asaphila, a remote 100 sq km area along the LAC in Upper Subansiri division of Arunachal, as well as the so-called "Fish Tail-I and II" areas in Chaglagam sector, which take their name from the shape the LAC takes in the region.
Sources said the PLA's "heightened activity" was been witnessed in Asaphila region for some months now. "The PLA troops, with vehicles and other equipment, then tried to build a road till Point 2445. They were then stopped from doing so by our soldiers," said a source.
The last Indian military outpost in the region is at Taksing, which is on the eastern edge of Asaphila, while the PLA bases too are located 40-50-km away. "Soldiers from both sides undertake aggressive patrolling of 7-8 days' duration. Some lead to face-offs, which are quite common in the region," said the source.
(File photo of Indo-China border at Bumla in Arunachal Pradesh.)
Incidentally, as part of the military confidence-building measures being progressively implemented between the world's largest and second-largest armies, a fourth BPM (border personnel meeting) point also became operational at Kibithu in Anjaw district of Arunachal last week.
"It was brigadier-level meet at Kibithu on October 23. The BPM mechanism provides for regular consultations and interactions between the two armies, which helps in defusing face-offs," said the source. The first three BPM points are at Chushul (Ladakh), Nathu La (Sikkim) and Bum La (Tawang, Arunachal), while another one is being discussed at Lipulekh Pass (Uttarakhand)-Qiang.
Interestingly, as was first reported by TOI, the Indian Army and PLA are also slated to hold their fourth "Hand-in-Hand'' (HiH) counter-terrorism exercise in Pune from November 16 to 27. The first three editions of the HiH exercises were held at Kunming (China) in 2007, Belgaum in 2008 and Miaoergang (China) in 2013. Though largely symbolic in nature, with just about 120 troops from each side taking part, the exercises are also considered an important CBM.
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