As it looks to resolve the military face-off with China on the Depsang plains in Ladakh, the government is banking on the fact that such a confrontation is not the first of its kind and neither is it the worst yet.
In 2008, a battalion of troops from each side were face-to-face for at least two months in Sikkim's Finger Area, leading to a point where the Army wanted authorisation to open fire if provoked or thwarted. Such was the tension, that a team of top secretary-level officials led by then National Security Advisor M K Narayanan visited the inhospitable heights to get a first hand assessment.
The area, which is essentially the northern tip of Sikkim, has a hill feature called the Finger Area that was always considered to be on the Indian side until Chinese forces started making incursions and then began building a road across the small tract. The feature overlooks an important valley called the "Sora Funnel", which makes it tactically important for the Army.
But the Chinese side claimed that according to the watershed principle, which is what the two sides follow in the Middle Sector, the area fell in their control. India produced old maps to reinforce its claim, but none of that could end the stand-off which became serious by the day.
At one point, sources said, the Chinese troops came so close to the Indian forces that the local commanders feared a flare-up and relayed messages for authority to retaliate if provoked. They were told to hold their nerves and the matter was immediately considered by the Cabinet Committee on Security.
While agreeing to look at the Chinese claim, the government decided to push for a diplomatic solution and stepped up efforts to that end. Gradually, the Chinese troops stepped back as quiet parleys started at the diplomatic level. However, both sides brought in reinforcements, raising troop numbers to about 800-1,000 on each side.
It took close to eight months for matters to return to normal with the Indian side deciding not to budge even though stone cairns and bunkers put up in the area were being constantly destroyed.
In Ladakh's Demchok sector last year, a Chinese road engineering party had come into an area on the Indian side and camped there in a bid to construct a road. While both sides are agreeable to patrolling by either sides according to respective perceptions of the Line of Actual Control, road construction in areas under Indian control was unacceptable, sources said.
This stand-off lasted a few weeks and was eventually resolved at the local commanders' level.
A year before that, China objected to India constructing a road on the west bank of the Pangong Tso lake. Chinese troops on boats would come closer to the west bank and demand stopping of construction. India, on the other hand, decided to press on with the work, leading to some tension.
The Indian side contended that China had built a road on the eastern bank, which is under Chinese control, and by that logic should let India do the same on the Indian-controlled western bank. It again took a few weeks before the Chinese side allowed the road construction to resume with the Indian side even saying Chinese troops were allowed to use the road during their routine patrols.
In most situations, sources said, China has eventually agreed to weigh in favour of maintaining peace and that is the hope at the highest levels even this time.Pranab
India pins hope on tactics that helped end past Chinese incursions - Indian Express
In 2008, a battalion of troops from each side were face-to-face for at least two months in Sikkim's Finger Area, leading to a point where the Army wanted authorisation to open fire if provoked or thwarted. Such was the tension, that a team of top secretary-level officials led by then National Security Advisor M K Narayanan visited the inhospitable heights to get a first hand assessment.
The area, which is essentially the northern tip of Sikkim, has a hill feature called the Finger Area that was always considered to be on the Indian side until Chinese forces started making incursions and then began building a road across the small tract. The feature overlooks an important valley called the "Sora Funnel", which makes it tactically important for the Army.
But the Chinese side claimed that according to the watershed principle, which is what the two sides follow in the Middle Sector, the area fell in their control. India produced old maps to reinforce its claim, but none of that could end the stand-off which became serious by the day.
At one point, sources said, the Chinese troops came so close to the Indian forces that the local commanders feared a flare-up and relayed messages for authority to retaliate if provoked. They were told to hold their nerves and the matter was immediately considered by the Cabinet Committee on Security.
While agreeing to look at the Chinese claim, the government decided to push for a diplomatic solution and stepped up efforts to that end. Gradually, the Chinese troops stepped back as quiet parleys started at the diplomatic level. However, both sides brought in reinforcements, raising troop numbers to about 800-1,000 on each side.
It took close to eight months for matters to return to normal with the Indian side deciding not to budge even though stone cairns and bunkers put up in the area were being constantly destroyed.
In Ladakh's Demchok sector last year, a Chinese road engineering party had come into an area on the Indian side and camped there in a bid to construct a road. While both sides are agreeable to patrolling by either sides according to respective perceptions of the Line of Actual Control, road construction in areas under Indian control was unacceptable, sources said.
This stand-off lasted a few weeks and was eventually resolved at the local commanders' level.
A year before that, China objected to India constructing a road on the west bank of the Pangong Tso lake. Chinese troops on boats would come closer to the west bank and demand stopping of construction. India, on the other hand, decided to press on with the work, leading to some tension.
The Indian side contended that China had built a road on the eastern bank, which is under Chinese control, and by that logic should let India do the same on the Indian-controlled western bank. It again took a few weeks before the Chinese side allowed the road construction to resume with the Indian side even saying Chinese troops were allowed to use the road during their routine patrols.
In most situations, sources said, China has eventually agreed to weigh in favour of maintaining peace and that is the hope at the highest levels even this time.Pranab
India pins hope on tactics that helped end past Chinese incursions - Indian Express
