India-China border faceoff: Major Generals hold talks on ground, all forces put on high state of alert

Officials said another meeting at the level of Major Generals is likely to take place at the same place Thursday. Besides reconciling certain aspects related to the violent showdown, the other major item on the agenda will be restoration of the status quo ante in the area, in line with decisions taken at the June 6 meeting of Corps Commanders at the Chushul-Moldo border point.

Tuesday’s meeting brought down tensions in the area which had been running high following the clashes that left 20 Indian soldiers dead, including Colonel B Santosh Babu, Commanding Officer of 16 Bihar.

In all, 76 Indian soldiers were injured in the clashes, but none is said to be in critical condition.

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Officials said 18 soldiers with serious injuries were admitted to the Military Hospital in Leh. Four of them were critical and placed in the Dangerously Ill list at the time of admission, but their condition was said to be stable Wednesday evening. There were 58 others with minor injuries at Tangtse, officials said.

Indian army soldiers rest next to artillery guns at a makeshift transit camp before heading to Ladakh (Reuters)

The government, meanwhile, has instructed all armed forces units to be in the state of highest readiness – on operational alert – for any deployment in the light of tensions on the China border.

As reported earlier, Army units had been moved forward in May, closer to the LAC, in all three sectors of the Sino-Indian border.

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While the Indian Air Force has already moved certain assets to its operational bases, the Navy has been asked to intensify its presence in the Indian Ocean Region. Local military commanders have also been told to be ready for any eventuality.