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Lt Gen Rajan Bakshi (retd.), former GOC-in-C Central Command, Indian Army speaks with Col Anil Bhat (retd.) on the continuing border standoff with China | SAM Conversation
South Asia Monitor
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9/22/2024
Lt Gen Rajan Bakshi (retd.), former GOC-in-C Central Command, Indian Army speaks with Col Anil Bhat (retd.) on the continuing border standoff with China | SAM Conversation
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00:00
Welcome to SAM Conversation, an online program of South Asia Monitor, to discuss the latest
00:19
situation about the occupation in our side of the line of actual control by Chinese People's
00:30
Liberation Army. We have the pleasure of welcoming Lieutenant General Rajan Bakshi, a former
00:42
Central Army Commander and GOC of the 14th Corps, which covers, apart from a portion of the
00:57
line of control, the line of actual control. It also has a major coverage of the line of actual
01:03
control. He is the only armored corps officer to have commanded a mountain formation like this,
01:16
and it is during his presence that there were induction of tanks also. However, now let's take
01:24
a look at, in the light of external affairs, Minister Jai Shankar recently announcing that
01:39
there are about 75% of disengagement problems which have been sorted out
01:46
and the differences have been narrowed down. This is the terminology used. They mutually agreed
02:03
on five friction points which include the Galwan, Tangong Tso and Gogra Hot Springs.
02:14
Now, the intrusion so far have been, in 2011, there were 180.
02:25
In July 2012, China painted China on the rocks, PLA painted China on the rocks in Demshock. In
02:34
2013, Chumar, Chhagla Gram in Arunachal and Depsang were intruded upon.
02:49
And the latest on 6th and 7th of September is in Anjore district of Arunachal Pradesh,
03:00
60 kilometers inside across the line of actual control. And also the latest is a heliport,
03:11
not just a helipad, but a helicopter port just about very close to the line of actual control.
03:22
Apart from this, the heliport is in the Arunachal border, Ningchi, which is Tibet.
03:35
China occupied Tibet, 20 kilometers from the line of actual control. And also, let's remember
03:48
that there are 800 Jiao Kang villages. Jiao Kang means well-organized
03:57
villages which have come up over the last five years.
04:04
I request you, Genbakshi, to throw some light on whatever has been announced and what can we
04:15
expect from now on? All right, sir. To start with, to get your viewers on grid as far as the
04:27
outline, the major issues of terrain are concerned, I would like to cover that very briefly.
04:35
Since it's been a long haul for the Chinese to have been there and people know what is happening,
04:43
but the terrain configuration may not be very clear. The terrain can be divided into major
04:49
issues. First, the Depsang Bulge. It's at an altitude of 16,000 feet at an average height.
04:58
It is interspersed with rocky outcrop, rivers, and it is conducive for the employment of mechanized
05:09
forces in this area, this high-altitude plateau. It's also known as Depsang Plains.
05:16
We have two important areas in this sector. One is Dolat Bek Oldi, DBO.
05:25
The threatening of DBO is vital for our defensive battle, the execution of our defensive battle.
05:37
It also provides us a very suitable helipad connection launch pad in case we are interested
05:44
as and when to launch offensive operations. That part, the enemy can progress operations from DBO
05:56
deeper into our territory and also a possibility of moving from across the Karakoram range
06:06
into the Nubra Valley, which is, you know, the area where we have the Siachen Glacier.
06:14
It can also progress operations toward Darbuk, where we now have a lovely road running from
06:22
Darbuk to DBO. The second area is the area south of DBO and north of the Pangyang Tsunli.
06:33
This area has nalas and rivers, rivers of the kind of Galwan, Rakhi Nala, etc. However,
06:41
these are confined spaces and employment of large forces is not possible.
06:49
Now we come to the Pangyang Tsunli area, the lake.
06:55
On the north bank of Pangyang Tsunli, we have those fingers, finger one to finger eight.
07:03
Five to eight is with them. They are holding them and one to four is with us.
07:08
The road commences from finger five and goes towards Sirijab. Sirijab is a major hub.
07:19
It is a nodal point for administration and for operational employment.
07:25
Therefore,
07:33
these fingers are vital to them. Sirijab can get threatened if they move or withdraw,
07:42
which I don't think they should ever do. That apart, they have made two bridges on the Pangyang
07:50
Lake, which connect the north and the south bank of the lake. Towards the south bank lies
07:59
Moldo, their major garrison, as also in the area of Spangboor and Spangboor Gap. This is the area
08:07
we're talking about, the Chishul area, which is vital because operations can be progressed from
08:16
Chishul on towards Tangsey and Dharbuk and Chagla and get into the label. That's an
08:22
access available in that area. That's a vital area. Thank you. Rajan, could you please specify
08:30
when these two bridges were made over the Pangyang Tsunli? Sir, please say again.
08:38
Can you please tell us when these two bridges over the Pangyang Tsunli were constructed?
08:45
Sir, these two bridges were constructed last year. Last year. Last year. It's been a long time.
08:53
So, we're talking about recent. It is in the area where the lake is the narrowest.
09:02
Therefore, you can connect the Spangboor area with the area in the vicinity of Sirijab.
09:11
And I take it that these roads are, can take, they've got the road classification of
09:22
carrying armour also, light tanks at least. That is true. That is true. It is to reinforce the area
09:32
which includes heavy equipment, including tanks and BMPs and heavy loads of vehicles.
09:43
They have a major garrison on Maldow and Maldow is a very threatened place which we did
09:49
when we occupied Kailash range with our tanks. Yes. Yes. That is why we had. Yes.
09:56
And they were very, very, they were very, you know, rattled. They were very rattled
10:02
when we occupied Kailash range and they were after us. They were after us that we withdraw
10:09
from there and we agreed. We agreed. And there is a very strong view amongst serving officers
10:18
who cannot, you know, speak out, but a lot of us veterans who, you know, who've been studying this
10:28
that we should never have withdrawn from Kailash range because that would maintain for us
10:37
forever, you know, a position to bargain with them as against always we being bargained against.
10:47
So you have said it. That is absolutely correct. We, you see, that could have been a very major
10:55
bargaining factor for Depsang and Demchok because Galwan and Hot Springs, we knew they were not as
11:06
strong in not withdrawing. So anything in Depsang and Demchok, this was a very, very good and a
11:14
strong point for negotiation. Yes. Yes. Sir, I will run out of food because you may run short
11:23
of time. Well, the area south of Chuchul leads you from Dungti onwards to Demchok into the Indus
11:32
Valley. Indus River enters India at Demchok. This area is also conducive for employment of mechanized
11:39
forces. I will later on introduce you to whatever I know on how the motorized division and the
11:51
mechanized division which they had brought into Depsang and how they have reorganized them
11:57
into combat armed division and regiments. I'll explain it as we go along.
12:09
Sir, I think we may run short of time. You can go over those briefly because
12:17
we finally have to come to the major question. Will the PLA withdraw from whatever has been stated?
12:29
That is these five friction points. That's all they have stated. Five friction points which
12:36
we've already named, which include Galwan, Pangong Tso and Gograj hot springs and narrow
12:45
down the differences. After you briefly go through this, we must dwell on these aspects.
12:53
Sir, one thing is very clear. No nation would like to have its military withdrawn
13:02
from areas that they have already occupied and the line that they hold.
13:07
The Chinese are well aware of the fact that they were extremely lucky and fortunate
13:13
to attain the 1959 claim line, which is their claim line. It is extremely sad that they could
13:22
come there and we were not able to pick up movement which was over hundreds of kilometers.
13:38
However, that is a lesson learned which we must carry forward from what happened in Kargil.
13:45
The formations in this case for the Chinese to come to the eastern Ladakh,
13:50
the formations come from around 1500 kilometers.
13:57
If they come in the garb of training in the close vicinity or even a reasonable distance away from
14:07
the LAC, the Indian side is that much more cautious. Warning bells are ringing all over
14:16
and we are something like formations on stand two and we have to have our surveillance,
14:25
our strategic surveillance, operational level surveillance that should have given us
14:30
as to what is happening even if they have come in the garb of training.
14:35
So, that is that bit, sir. The no nation, that's one thing very clear.
14:40
Now, Galwan, we finished with eyeball to eyeball contact and that is why they went back with the
14:50
basic premise during our peace talks that they can withdraw to an area where there is no skirmish.
14:57
When the militaries of two nations are in an environment of such hostility,
15:04
anything can happen between the troops at any time. So, they've gone back from there.
15:10
Hot Springs is again not an area which is as vital. In fact, even Demchok is in the CNN area
15:18
not as vital as the large chunk of Depsang Plains and the Depsang Bulge which comprises
15:28
the major portion of what is the Akshaya Chin. Therefore,
15:36
Depsang is never discussed in any meeting. Depsang is one which we have to be more interested in.
15:46
Pangang Tso is an area where I don't feel that even if we have our best
15:57
foot forward for negotiations that they would like to withdraw.
16:02
In fact, it is a good effort on our part to have got one to four, fingers one to four.
16:10
Because we must also know that G, I'll just give you the number,
16:19
it is the new highway which has come up in this area G695. Like we have G219 in further depth
16:34
in the Akshaya Chin area, it is the closest at Redop which is close to Demchok that G219 is
16:43
in eastern Ladakh. Now, G695 is one, it is between G219 and closer to the line of the LSE.
16:58
So, that is the effort which this highway has already come. It's in being. So, therefore,
17:06
you can imagine the sidestepping of forces in eastern Ladakh which is 826 kilometers
17:15
of effective frontage of 14 poles. Therefore, induction, de-induction, resupply, logistics
17:27
of all sorts, it has all been catered for. And combined with that, the forces which they have
17:34
deployed, they have mixed the combat, the mechanized division and the motorized division
17:47
into a combined armed divisions and further into regiments which have a mix of heavy,
17:55
medium, and light equipment. Based on where the employability is more suitable,
18:04
the mix of heavy, medium, and light is.
18:09
Just a moment, please. Could you please specify the heavy, medium, and light in the case of guns?
18:15
Guns only. In the case of tanks, it's only light tanks. Am I right?
18:21
Yes. So, they have heavy tanks and medium tanks in the form of T99A and T96.
18:31
And T96, they also have in a medium category something called PLT. It's a wheeled vehicle
18:40
with 100 millimeter gun. The light tank is the ZTQ-15. It is 33 tons, 105 millimeter gun.
18:52
All these tanks have the ERA. And the ICV that they have is CSK-181. It's a wheeled vehicle.
19:03
So, they have a mixture of wheels and tracks. But this is the kind of equipment which is available
19:09
in this area. And therefore, we have medium tanks. Don't want to get into the realms of
19:16
what we should have there. But certainly, the requirement of light tanks exists.
19:21
Fair enough. Now, if you could please wind this up, please.
19:35
Okay. You want me to finish this off?
19:38
Yeah, the deployment part that you're talking about.
19:41
So, this deployment in CADs and CAR, which is the regimental level, they do rotation.
19:51
So, what is CAD and CAR, please?
19:55
Combat Arms Division and Combat Arm Regiment. Regiment in their case is like a brigade.
20:05
So, this configuration of brigades is what is heavy medium light.
20:13
Accordingly, the tasking and their locations, the deployments are done.
20:22
Similarly, the mechanized forces, along with a mix of all arms and services,
20:32
which form part of the Combat Arm Regiment, there is a separate one for the Debsang,
20:38
a separate one for the area of Pangang Tso, separate for areas south of Pangang Tso,
20:45
south of Pangang Tso, which is the Rizangla area till Dungti. And from Dungti to Demchok
20:51
is a separate Combat Arms Regiment. So, that is the configuration all along till Chumar.
21:04
Beyond Demchok is Chumar.
21:06
Chumar, yes, Chumar. Thank you very much, General Bakshib. No, we would love to, you know,
21:13
take on more, but we're a little strapped for time. You have elaborated on a very,
21:21
very large amount of deployment of, you know, a large area. We haven't yet talked about,
21:29
you know, the Arunachal Pradesh. That's yet another, you know, large area where there's
21:40
been a very heavy deployment. Now, what I want to, you know, ask and get your views on is
21:48
that in light of what the External Affairs Minister has said, do you think that the PLA
21:55
is going to withdraw from the set points, that is the three mentioned Galwan, Pangang Tso,
22:02
and Gogra Hot Springs? And will they actually do it? And also, you know, relax on the patrol points?
22:13
So, after having reached here in middle of 2020, starting April 2020,
22:22
there has been a massive effort in creation of infrastructure all along. I want to tell you,
22:29
I want to tell you that prior to 2020, we had defenses on our side at Demchok, Phuket,
22:39
Tungti, etc. We had pillboxes, we had communication friendships. The Chinese didn't have anything.
22:46
They only had the border guards, which were in camps. They used to go for patrolling and get
22:52
back to their camps. Obviously, when they have come here, and they're not going to go back,
22:59
never would they want to go back. That is why defenses are being constructed.
23:07
Roads have been constructed, which are connecting G695 closer to the LAC, the verticals
23:14
connecting 695, 219. There are forward locations, there are defenses, there are habitats come up,
23:23
helidromes, the airfields in the supporting vicinities have been upgraded,
23:28
and fighter aircrafts brought in there, logistic nodes have come up.
23:32
The strategic reserves of Western theater are also along 219, separate for Depsang,
23:43
for Pangang Tso area, and areas south of it in this valley.
23:50
So there are these reserves which are there at Redok, further up north for Depsang,
23:58
and further southwards for areas of Chumar and the like. So therefore,
24:07
there is a lot of, you know, they have actually entrenched themselves. So this had to be done. We
24:13
had to accept it. They're not going to go back. Had they wanted to, that would have been a very
24:19
different scene. And I don't see them patrolling at all, sir. We had, I think, 21 co-commander
24:28
meetings on which not an inch was agreed upon. Not an inch of Bidwan was agreed upon.
24:41
I wonder. Well, if there was anything, it would have come in the media.
24:45
I have no direct access to any serving officer. I don't do it.
24:49
No, no, that's fine. Anyway, thank you very much, Jal Bakshi, for, you know, this
25:00
very, a dose which is not yet big enough. There's much more happening. But whatever that you
25:09
share, thank you very much. Sir, your overall aim of, you know, having the emphasis
25:16
and focus on Eastern Ladakh, that is why we didn't want to get into the realms of
25:21
South China Sea, Taiwan. And I must conclude by saying, the way we used to have our dual
25:29
task formations for North, the West and the East, they have something like that. If Taiwan is quiet,
25:37
they have reserves here at Shikane, in the areas of that time, Shikane, where it is Taiwan-based.
25:46
If Taiwan's hot, then they move. So something on those lines is what he's already planned
25:52
and executed on ground. I'm also to say, sir, very sorry, lots has been done since the time I was
26:00
there. Lots, fantastic work done by our country. And I only pray and hope that we don't repeat
26:09
Kargil and we don't repeat April 2020 in terms of our strategic surveillance
26:15
and intelligence. God bless our nation, proud of our nation.
26:20
Thank you. Thank you, Jal Bakshi. And I think that you ended that very well, that we cannot,
26:26
we cannot afford another Kargil or another Galwan. Thank you very much.
26:30
Thank you, sir.
26:31
As far as this plan of withdrawal, I think let's believe it when it happens,
26:38
if it does happen. Thank you. All the best.
26:41
Thank you, sir.
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