Indian Army Chief visits Eastern Ladakh to review, oversee and check military preparedness

On July 28, 2023, Indian Army Chief General Manoj Pande visited forward areas of Ladakh to review the operational preparedness, officials said.

According to the ADGPI (Additional Directorate General of Public Information) – Indian Army, General Manoj Pande visited the forward areas of Ladakh and received a briefing on operational readiness. The Army Chief also praised the soldiers for their unshakable dedication and urged them to keep working with the highest professionalism and a good attitude, said Indian Army on its Twitter handle.

Army Chief’s Visit to Eastern Ladakh

“General Manoj Pande, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), visited forward areas of Ladakh and was briefed on operational preparedness. Interacting with troops, the Army Chief complimented the soldiers for their unwavering commitment and exhorted them to continue working with the utmost professionalism and positive spirit,” tweeted Indian Army.

Earlier in June this year, General Manoj Pande, Chief of the Army Staff of India (COAS), visited the first pre-engineered Environment-friendly accommodation for troops constructed by the Indian Army. “The structure was constructed using Light Gauge Steel Frame technology in a record time of 10 months”, said an official statement.

It also added that the Chief of the Army Staff complimented the team for the same.

Strengthening Forward Areas (Eastern Ladakh)

On July 8, 2023, the Indian Army carried out various military drills in the forward areas that included the use of T-90, T-72 tanks, and BMP Infantry Fighting Vehicles. The Indian Army has also placed game-changing weapon platforms in Eastern Ladakh as a part of India’s muscle flexing and, at the same time, signalling China regarding India’s raw military power.

Examples include the Dhanush Howitzer, M-4 Quick Reaction Vehicles and the indigenous K-9 Vajra self-propelled artillery guns, as well as the TATA Rajak surveillance system that can detect humans and vehicles up to a distance of 15km and 25 km, respectively.

The Indian Army has also built 3D-printed permanent defences in Eastern Ladakh. These shelters can withstand blasts and can be quickly erected within 36-48 hours. In addition, 50,000 troops of the Indian Army were mobilised.

Importance of Ladakh

Ladakh is critical for maintaining Indian presence on the Siachen Glacier as it provides a physical approach to the frozen battlefield, connecting to the rest of the country. West of the Siachen glacier, across the Saltoro Ridge, lies Pakistan-occupied Gilgit and Baltistan. East of it lies China-occupied Aksai Chin. With a presence on the Siachen glacier, India has managed to prevent China and Pakistan from linking up.

Defence Investiture Ceremony (Phase-II)

General Manoj Pande also interacted with the awardees felicitated during Defence Investiture Ceremony 2023 (Phase-II) in the national capital.

“General Manoj Pande (COAS) interacted with the awardees felicitated during Defence Investiture Ceremony 2023 (Phase-II) in New Delhi. The COAS appreciated the stellar contribution made by the awardees in the service of the Nation and organisation”, said the official statement.