India decides against reactivating Chushul airfield

[angeldemon_007]

New Delhi, Jul 24 (PTI) India has shelved plans to reactivate the Chushul airfield in Ladakh close to the Line of Actual Control, apprehending Chinese objections.The Indian Air Force, however, is going to revive several other Advanced Landing Grounds (ALGs) in a phased manner as part of its efforts to beef up capabilities along the boundary with China, IAF sources told PTI here. "In China's version of the border and our version of the border, there is a clash on Chushul. The government did not want us make any move there. So, we are not working on such controversial projects," they said.Located close to the LAC with China at a height of over 13,000 feet, the Chushul Valley in Ladakh has an airstrip, which was a key platform during the Sino-Indian War in 1962 but has not been in use since then.It was part of IAF's original plans to develop ALGs along the India-China border as part of its efforts to strengthen the defence in these areas and support Army operations in the rugged terrain. The IAF has already developed a number of ALGs in the northeast and the Ladakh sector, including Daulat Beg Oldie (DBO), Fuk Che and Nyoma for aircraft operations.Sources said a number of new ALGs would be opened by the IAF in the coming years in these areas and many of them would be upgraded for heavier aircraft operations."Such ALGs will help support our forward area policy.With helipads, say we can support only 200 troops there but with a runway, we can land supplies for over a thousand troops there," a source said.

India decides against reactivating Chushul airfield, IBN Live News

 

[deckingraj]

New Delhi, Jul 24 (PTI) India has shelved plans to reactivate the Chushul airfield in Ladakh close to the Line of Actual Control, apprehending Chinese objections.The Indian Air Force, however, is going to revive several other Advanced Landing Grounds (ALGs) in a phased manner as part of its efforts to beef up capabilities along the boundary with China, IAF sources told PTI here. "In China's version of the border and our version of the border, there is a clash on Chushul. The government did not want us make any move there. So, we are not working on such controversial projects," they said.Located close to the LAC with China at a height of over 13,000 feet, the Chushul Valley in Ladakh has an airstrip, which was a key platform during the Sino-Indian War in 1962 but has not been in use since then.It was part of IAF's original plans to develop ALGs along the India-China border as part of its efforts to strengthen the defence in these areas and support Army operations in the rugged terrain. The IAF has already developed a number of ALGs in the northeast and the Ladakh sector, including Daulat Beg Oldie (DBO), Fuk Che and Nyoma for aircraft operations.Sources said a number of new ALGs would be opened by the IAF in the coming years in these areas and many of them would be upgraded for heavier aircraft operations."Such ALGs will help support our forward area policy.With helipads, say we can support only 200 troops there but with a runway, we can land supplies for over a thousand troops there," a source said.

India decides against reactivating Chushul airfield, IBN Live News

i am confused...not sure if i should be pissed off at GOI or praise them....Can someone with more knowledge on the subject help me here??? I am not a war-monger but we also need to be assertive at some point...

 

[Abingdonboy]

i am confused...not sure if i should be pissed off at GOI or praise them....Can someone with more knowledge on the subject help me here??? I am not a war-monger but we also need to be assertive at some point...

I found your remarks rather humorous and yet also rather fitting. It seems to some up the conundrum that the GoI are in- whether risk provoking retaliatory action from Chinese or preparing for inevitable hostilities. I think in this case GoI have got it the balance right- not risking fully pi$$ing off China reviving this base but reactivating enough around them to offer am similar advantage without provoking the enemy.

 

[LiberalAtheist]

why not reactivate it??? it would serve us good this is classic spineless congress party at its best

 

[deckingraj]

I found your remarks rather humorous and yet also rather fitting. It seems to some up the conundrum that the GoI are in- whether risk provoking retaliatory action from Chinese or preparing for inevitable hostilities. I think in this case GoI have got it the balance right- not risking fully pi$$ing off China reviving this base but reactivating enough around them to offer am similar advantage without provoking the enemy.

buddy i understand that part...that is why i am confused....at some point we need to be assertive about the border area that we think is one.....I don't mind if they also reciprocate in the same manner...in other words if they don't have presence of their armed forces in the areas which we believe is ours i am fine with GOI's move..in fact a great move....That is why i said if someone more informed can help me....

 

[Kazhugu]

i am confused...not sure if i should be pissed off at GOI or praise them....Can someone with more knowledge on the subject help me here??? I am not a war-monger but we also need to be assertive at some point...

especially since they seem not have let go of the bad habit of issuing stapled visas..........what signal are we sending........we are willing to bend more.......

 

[IndoCarib]

Being assertive is the last thing you can expect from this MMS govt. Our policy on China is a mess

 

[COLDHEARTED AVIATOR]

I think its a good decision coz reactivating the Chushul airfield could lead to skirmishes as both sides are suspicious of each others movement near the border.We should take steps to prepare us for a war and not take steps which lead us to a war.

 

[IndoCarib]

I think its a good decision coz reactivating the Chushul airfield could lead to skirmishes as both sides are suspicious of each others movement near the border.We should take steps to prepare us for a war and not take steps which lead us to a war.

You are wrong ! We can not afford war! We should take steps to prevent war and not take steps that lead us to war ! Reactivating this airfield could deter China.

 

[Splurgenxs]

OK this is what i make of this...
When India decided to activate the Chushul base ...the position of the base must have been such that it would give decisive advantage to the Indian forces under present situation ..
Now what such an action triggers is, the fact that China feels vulnerable at this points and starts moving asets in a manner that it is better situated or equipped to adequately counter it ..
This movement can have 2 implication ---either it brings em closer to our border or forces an logistically hard & grinding move to be better situated.
This in turn leads to further tension at the border.
Chines must have presented a proper case diplomatically so as to sway our Forces to keep this move on a hold.

Such bases anyways can be up and running within 2 days(guesstimate) but the first reaction capability is lost ,nevertheless it also keeps aggressive posturing at minimum and reduces tension and insecurity on both sides.

 

[COLDHEARTED AVIATOR]

[/B]

You are wrong ! We can not afford war! We should take steps to prevent war and not take steps that lead us to war ! Reactivating this airfield could deter China.

What i meant was that we should be prepared if China attacks us.And i dont think if we construct a airfield on a land which Chinese think is disputed will deter China.Maybe you know less about how China has involved itself in various wars in the past.

 

[Lankan Ranger]

both countries already agreed to maintain a stable LAC. Diplomacy only way to solve problems. Asia need peace....

 

[IndoCarib]

What i meant was that we should be prepared if China attacks us.And i dont think if we construct a airfield on a land which Chinese think is disputed will deter China.Maybe you know less about how China has involved itself in various wars in the past.

Well, Open your eyes! Chinese army is already in a land India thinks is disputed ( ***). What have we done about it ?

 

[indian navy]

a bad step in short govt dont have guts

govt is just sending wrong signal to Chinese, we must have to reactivate

 

[Soumitra]

This is just like the Nehruvian thinking in 62. "We wont build roads in the border areas as it will help the chinese when they cross the border"

Indi - Chini Bhai Bhai doesn't work. If you have an asset activate it. I am eagerly waiting for 2014 or for DMK/ Trinamul/ Any other ally pulling the plug on this govt. so that we can get a real working govt. for a change