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India is all set to raise a new mountain strike corps, more than 45000 soldiers in all, for deployment against China in the high Himalayas.
The Indian defence ministry has okayed the armys proposal and put it up with the finance ministry for clearance.
After early Mays fracas with the Chinese at the Depsang bulge, the finance ministry has indicated it will soon clear the proposal.
The defence ministry has asked for 81,000 crore Indian rupees for raising this mountain strike corps alongwith two independent infantry brigades and two independent armoured brigades in it to plug the gaps along the 4000-kilometre Line of Actual Control on the Himalayas.
The clearance for the strike corps which will cost 62,000 crore is on its way, ministry of defence officials said.
Once the finance ministry clears the raising proposal, it will be put up to the Cabinet Committee on Security Affairs (CCSA) which is expected to clear it without much delay.
The raising will cover the whole 12th Five Year plan period (2012-2017), they said.
This will not only beef up Indian defences but provide the Indian army offensive capability against China which it now lacks.
Indian military formations are tasked in a defensive role on the disputed Himalayan border with China, mainly to hold the line and prevent the Chinese from breaking through, as they did during the 1962 border war.
India raised two mountain divisions, more than 30000 troops in all, in the last two years and deployed in the eastern sector with China, basing one division at Lekhapani in Arunachal Pradesh and another at Missamari in Assam.
The strike corps, when raised will be based in Panagarh in West Bengal and its forward elements will be based in Sikkim and the Chicken neck that connects seven northeastern states to the Indian mainland.
While formations deployed on the Chicken neck will ensure that is not cut off by the Chinese in the event of an war, those based in Sikkim will be able to strike across into Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) across the Chumbi valley where the Indian army enjoys crucial tactical advantage.
This formation will have rapid reaction elements.
Once the strike corps is raised, Indian military doctrine vis-à-vis China will undergo a change with a clear element of offensive defence worked into it.
India has also expedited development of its defence infrastructure along the Line of Actual Control, building key mountain roads, renovating airstrips for airborne landings and supplies, setting up fortifications and much else.
China appears upset with the Indian military effort which will negate its current area dominance on the Line of Actual Control.
Analysts say April-May incursion of a Chinese platoon 19 kms into the Indian-held side of LAC at Depsang Bulge in Eastern Ladakh was a reflection of Beijings angst.
Indian army chief General Bikram Singh was not averse to a tough military action to push them out but was restrained by Delhi.
Instead Delhi threatened to cancel Foreign Minister Salman Khurshids May 9 visit to Beijing which would have led to the cancellation of Chinese premier Li Keqiangs visit to India( 19-21 May) .
Beijing pulled back its troops and Premier Li tried to allay Indian apprehensions by promising an early settlement of the border dispute until that happens, he said repeatedly, the two Asian giants have mechanisms in place to handle border tensions.
source: India to raise a strike corps - bdnews24.com
The Indian defence ministry has okayed the armys proposal and put it up with the finance ministry for clearance.
After early Mays fracas with the Chinese at the Depsang bulge, the finance ministry has indicated it will soon clear the proposal.
The defence ministry has asked for 81,000 crore Indian rupees for raising this mountain strike corps alongwith two independent infantry brigades and two independent armoured brigades in it to plug the gaps along the 4000-kilometre Line of Actual Control on the Himalayas.
The clearance for the strike corps which will cost 62,000 crore is on its way, ministry of defence officials said.
Once the finance ministry clears the raising proposal, it will be put up to the Cabinet Committee on Security Affairs (CCSA) which is expected to clear it without much delay.
The raising will cover the whole 12th Five Year plan period (2012-2017), they said.
This will not only beef up Indian defences but provide the Indian army offensive capability against China which it now lacks.
Indian military formations are tasked in a defensive role on the disputed Himalayan border with China, mainly to hold the line and prevent the Chinese from breaking through, as they did during the 1962 border war.
India raised two mountain divisions, more than 30000 troops in all, in the last two years and deployed in the eastern sector with China, basing one division at Lekhapani in Arunachal Pradesh and another at Missamari in Assam.
The strike corps, when raised will be based in Panagarh in West Bengal and its forward elements will be based in Sikkim and the Chicken neck that connects seven northeastern states to the Indian mainland.
While formations deployed on the Chicken neck will ensure that is not cut off by the Chinese in the event of an war, those based in Sikkim will be able to strike across into Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) across the Chumbi valley where the Indian army enjoys crucial tactical advantage.
This formation will have rapid reaction elements.
Once the strike corps is raised, Indian military doctrine vis-à-vis China will undergo a change with a clear element of offensive defence worked into it.
India has also expedited development of its defence infrastructure along the Line of Actual Control, building key mountain roads, renovating airstrips for airborne landings and supplies, setting up fortifications and much else.
China appears upset with the Indian military effort which will negate its current area dominance on the Line of Actual Control.
Analysts say April-May incursion of a Chinese platoon 19 kms into the Indian-held side of LAC at Depsang Bulge in Eastern Ladakh was a reflection of Beijings angst.
Indian army chief General Bikram Singh was not averse to a tough military action to push them out but was restrained by Delhi.
Instead Delhi threatened to cancel Foreign Minister Salman Khurshids May 9 visit to Beijing which would have led to the cancellation of Chinese premier Li Keqiangs visit to India( 19-21 May) .
Beijing pulled back its troops and Premier Li tried to allay Indian apprehensions by promising an early settlement of the border dispute until that happens, he said repeatedly, the two Asian giants have mechanisms in place to handle border tensions.
source: India to raise a strike corps - bdnews24.com
. OT these mountain divisions are long overdue.
