India to proceed with infrastructure development in key regions along LAC despite hardened obstruction by China

The People's Liberation Army of China is conducting large-scale military exercises. It is said to be testing the firepower of its troops. Dozens of tanks and armed vehicles were seen taking part in drills here.

The Indian air force is also moving fighter jets to forward bases. Today — it deployed the newly acquired Apache attack helicopters in Ladakh along with upgraded MIG-29s.

Other critical front-line assets like the Sukhoi-30 MKI — the Mirage 2000 and jaguar fighter jets too have been moved to advanced positions, outposts are being monitored frequently.

Indian forces say they are fully prepared for any further misadventures. Delhi is also putting speculation to rest. For 3 days — there have been unconfirmed reports about Indian soldiers being in Chinese custody. That they were being held hostage by the PLA. Today — the Indian army has set the record straight. It has confirmed that all soldiers involved in the Galwan valley are — now — accounted for. None of them is missing in action. The Chinese foreign ministry too has confirmed this.

India is currently progressively testing China's predominance in the road and air availability in high-elevation extends along the 3,488-km Line of Actual Control (LAC) from Ladakh to Arunachal Pradesh.

This has chafed China. One of the triggers for the continuous troop showdowns in eastern Ladakh, for example, is India's fruition of the 255-km Darbuk-Shyok-Daulat Beg Oldie (DBO) road a year ago and its new move to manufacturing some extra feeder interface streets and scaffolds.

Reports suggest that China came prepared for a faceoff. It altered the landscape to make way for its troops. It widened the tracks — to clear the way to make river crossings. And then it decided to paint India as the aggressor. China has always had an advantage, but India too — seems better prepared now for any possible incursion. Sources tell us— that Indian army engineers have completed a 60-metre bridge over the Galwan River.

The same bridge which is said to have triggered China's aggression. It’s now complete. And it will consolidate India's hold of the sensitive sector. It will allow Indian infantry to not only swiftly move across the river. PM Modi chaired a virtual all-party meeting today, it was attended by the opposition — and the leaders of various political parties from across India.

They all supported the Govt's response to China, except the communist parties, which reportedly refused to criticise China.

Congress held the Govt responsible for the loss of Indian lives. India fast-tracked road development at the border in recent years. 

In 2014, the Govt passed an order that allowed the bro— the border roads organization to construct infrastructure within 100 km of the lac— without seeking repeated clearances. This has resulted in better connectivity for Indian forces. The govt says India will continue to build roads and that upsets China.