Page 5 - The Indian EYE 103026

COVER STORY OCTOBER 30, 2026 | The Indian Eye 5

tional reality? Are there indications of leaders to address disputes without al-
a sustained deployment beyond what lowing every incident to become a test
would normally be expected? of national resolve.
Answers to such questions would India must also continue strength-
provide a firmer basis for judging the ening its ability to monitor the border
seriousness of the reported face-offs and respond to changes in Chinese ac-
than broad references to China’s mil- tivity. Improvements in infrastructure,
itary strength. India, for its part, must surveillance, logistics and coordina-
maintain adequate surveillance, in- tion can reduce the risk that difficult
frastructure, logistics and readiness terrain or slow communication leaves
along the LAC. The difficult terrain Indian forces at a disadvantage. Such
of the eastern sector makes these re- measures are necessary regardless of
quirements particularly important. whether the latest reports prove to be
Preparedness is not evidence that a an isolated episode or part of a wider
conflict is inevitable; it is a means of pattern.
reducing vulnerability and ensuring The government’s communica-
that local incidents do not develop tion strategy is equally important. Ex-
into larger crises. The Indian Army has made its presence stronger in the border region ( Agency file photo) cessive disclosure could compromise
The PLA’s capabilities make it operational security, but silence or
necessary for India to remain alert. ties and national security. clarify the handling of disputed areas general assurances can leave room for
They do not, on their own, settle the The road ahead and prevent either side from using speculation and political confronta-
question of what China intends to do ambiguity to change conditions on the tion. A credible middle course would
in Arunachal Pradesh. ndia and China have continued to ground. be to provide verifiable information
Opposition questions use diplomatic and military chan- For India, the objective is not sim- about the broad situation while with-
government Inels to manage their border dis- ply to avoid a clash. It is to preserve its holding details that could expose mili-
pute. The 25th round of talks between territorial claims, maintain the ability tary vulnerabilities.
ongress president Mallikarjun the two countries’ Special Represen- of its troops to operate in accordance The Opposition, meanwhile, has
Kharge has raised questions tatives, held in Beijing on August 25, with established arrangements and a responsibility to ground its criticism
Cabout the border situation, reaffirmed the importance of peace ensure that diplomatic engagement in evidence and distinguish between
including whether Indian forces have and stability along the border and the does not come at the cost of security. questions that need answers and
lost access to patrolling areas and why mechanisms available to manage dif- For China, continued military claims that have been established.
the public has not received fuller in- ferences. activity along the LAC may serve Scrutiny is most effective when it
formation about developments. He Such talks are significant be- several purposes, including maintain- identifies specific gaps in the govern-
has also questioned what tangible cause the dispute cannot be resolved ing a presence in disputed areas and ment’s account rather than treating
results have emerged from the dip- through military deployments alone. demonstrating that Beijing will not every report of friction as proof of a
lomatic engagement between Prime Political dialogue is necessary to pre- abandon its territorial claims. Yet the wider strategic failure.
Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese vent local disagreements from under- same activity carries risks. A patrol The available information points
President Xi Jinping, as well as other mining the wider relationship, while encounter can escalate, trigger politi- to a continuing border problem that
rounds of talks. military communication can help en- cal pressure and undermine the diplo- demands vigilance, but it does not
Kharge’s argument draws on the sure that encounters between patrols matic channels that both sides need to conclusively establish that the PLA is
distinction between diplomatic con- do not spiral into a crisis. manage their rivalry. preparing for a major confrontation
tact and conditions on the ground. But the effectiveness of these The two countries therefore have in Arunachal Pradesh. China’s mili-
Meetings between leaders may help mechanisms must ultimately be an interest in preventing local inci- tary capabilities are substantial, and
reduce tensions and establish political judged by their results. Statements re- dents from turning into broader con- the potential consequences of mis-
channels, but their value ultimately affirming peace are useful only if they frontations. That requires clear com- calculation are serious. Yet neither
depends on whether they contribute are accompanied by arrangements munication, restraint by troops on the military strength nor recurring patrol
to stability, preserve existing arrange- that reduce the risk of confrontation, ground and a willingness by political friction, taken alone, proves an inten-
ments and prevent unilateral changes tion to escalate.
along the border. The crucial test is whether the
The Opposition’s demand for reported encounters have changed
clarity also reflects the political sensi- conditions on the ground and wheth-
tivity of the border issue. The govern- er India and China can manage them
ment has repeatedly presented its ap- without compromising their respec-
proach to China as a combination of tive positions. The government must
military preparedness and diplomatic explain what it can, the military must
engagement. When fresh reports of remain prepared, and diplomatic
friction emerge, it faces questions channels must deliver more than reas-
about whether that approach is deliv- suring statements.
ering the intended results. The question is not whether India
These interventions reflect differ- should be concerned about the PLA. It
ent aspects of the Opposition’s crit- should. The question is whether the lat-
icism. One concerns the immediate est incidents indicate a material deteri-
military situation and whether Indian oration in the security situation — and
troops retain access to areas they pre- whether the government can demon-
viously patrolled. Another concerns strate that it is responding effectively.
the government’s wider China policy, The Chinese PLA remains the world’s biggest army despite the cutting down of number of That judgement requires evidence,
including the relationship between soldiers in recent years (Agency file photo) not alarmism, and transparency with-
diplomatic engagement, economic out compromising national security.

www.TheIndianEYE.com