Srinagar: After the face-off between the Indian troops and the Chinese troops last week along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) near Sikkim’s Naku La pass, China seems to be planning something on the Ladakh border.
The Indian Air Force (IAF) had to rush its fighter jets to patrol along the LAC in Ladakh after helicopters of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) were seen to be doing rounds near the border. This incident too occurred last week, as the report suggests, around the same time when the scuffle took place between the two troops in North Sikkim.
“The Chinese military helicopters were flying very close to the Line of Actual Control. After their movement was picked up, the Indian Air Force fighter jets flew patrols in the area,” government sources told ANI in New Delhi.
However, the IAF officials called it a “routine affair”.
“China military choppers fly in their territories and our fighter jets in our territories. It is normal routine affair,” said an IAF officer, as quoted by IANS. He also rejected the aggressive approach at LAC.
The officer said, “On Tuesday also the Chinese military helicopters were flying close to LAC and our planes were also doing routine sortie.” When asked about the aggressive attitude, the officer speaking candidly said, “It is being unnecessarily sensationalised. It is a routine Standard Operating Procedure”
The act of China flying military choppers near LAC is being perceived as a provocation by the Indian military establishment.
There was no official word on whether the Su-30 jets were rushed in to carry out the sorties in the wake of the face-off and aggressive Chinese posturing in the area.
Following the fracas, both sides brought in additional troops.
