Gen V P Malik: ‘Be ready for a long haul if talks don’t yield results’

Gen Malik, who led the Army in evicting Pakistani intruders from the Kargil heights in 1999, said, “The Chinese occupation was premeditated and it is apparent from their statements that they are in no mood to withdraw.”

5 min readChandigarhUpdated: Jun 19, 2020 07:45 AM IST

china border, china border dispute, gen V P Malik, galwan valley, pangong tso, ladakh, china, china lac, india china

General V P Malik (retd). (File)

If talks do not lead to de-escalation, India should be prepared for a long haul at Galwan Valley in Ladakh, as the Chinese troops are well armed, and with the two armies eyeball to eyeball, more such skirmishes could occur along other points on LAC, former Chief of Army Staff Gen V P Malik has warned.

Gen Malik, who led the Army in evicting Pakistani intruders from the Kargil heights in 1999, said, “The Chinese occupation was premeditated and it is apparent from their statements that they are in no mood to withdraw.”

Also Read | Stick to your side of LAC: Delhi to Beijing

The General said the Chinese People’s Liberation Army first came into the area in the garb of conducting a routine exercise. “They told the media that certain large formations were carrying out an exercise. Then they sprang a surprise by occupying these positions.”

Unlike similar scuffles in the past, this time the Chinese brought heavy weapons such as artillery guns close to the area, he pointed out. “They are also armed with long-range weapons, which could include missiles,” he said.

Calling the Chinese action “salami slicing”, Gen Malik pointed out that the two sides have been going by their own “perception” of the LAC. “Now the Chinese are saying their area includes the position they have occupied,” he said. “Our argument is that we have been patrolling the area so far without any objections from their side…. It is apparent they will not like to leave this position.”

Read | Why Ladakh matters to India and China

That China’s action is premeditated is apparent from simultaneous actions at several places, Gen Malik said. He said unless India can convince them to go back diplomatically and politically, it is going to be a long-drawn affair.

Story continues below this ad

“If de-escalation does not take place fast, the chances of more such clashes taking place will increase. When you have troops eyeball to eyeball, there is lot of tension, anger, and any small incident can flare up.”

Discounting the military-level talks for their limitations, Gen Malik said, “The ball is now in the court of diplomats and politicians. They have to decide how to move further. It is in the interest of neither China nor India to escalate further.”

Read | Why no arms? Congress, Govt battle ahead of meet today

Comparing the two troops, Gen Malik said while the PLA has the advantage of mobilising heavy weapons more quickly, given the infrastructure on their side, India has greater experience of mountain warfare. “Having seen our boys in Kargil, I can vouch that we have better human resources — both in skill and quality,” he maintained.

Story continues below this ad

Gen Malik dismissed any comparison of the latest standoff with the Kargil war and said, “The political and military objectives of Kargil war were quite different and it spanned a frontage of over 160 km. That is not the situation now. At the moment, the Galwan Valley (standoff) remains localised.”

Underlining the importance of carrying on with the work on building infrastructure in the area, he said this will give India great advantage. “We are now talking of border territory and frontage of 3500 km.”

Editorial | Easier said

On the silence of India’s neighbours, Gen Malik said they are not in a position to take any side unless they feel their own interests are involved. “To them, we are both big neighbours that they don’t want to annoy. But I won’t be surprised if some come up with a statement leaning towards China,” he said.

Gen Malik pointed out how China has been supporting Pakistan over J&K for more than a decade now. “Ladakh was part of J&K. (But) when we revoked Article 370, China protested strongly. With this action, they not only seek to protect Aksai Chin but also take the side of their ally Pakistan on the J&K issue,” he said.

Story continues below this ad

But he was upbeat on Nepal despite the country’s Parliament passing a Bill updating the map to include Indian territory. “The two armies have very good relations. In fact, the Indian army chief is Nepal army’s honorary chief. I was given the badge by the (then) king himself… Our relations may have soured at political level due to domestic compulsions on their side but the army to army relations continue to be good.”

He said, “We recruit soldiers from Nepal, and a large number of their officers come to our military institutions. During my time, I had called their chief to come and take a salute at our passing out parade at the Indian Military Academy (IMA)”.

Gen Malik said he couldn’t see the bitterness lasting for long given the geopolitics, Nepal’s geography and the civilisational and economic relationship between the two nations.

Manraj Grewal Sharma

Manraj Grewal Sharma is a senior journalist and the Resident Editor of The Indian Express in Chandigarh, where she leads the newspaper’s coverage of north India’s most politically and institutionally significant regions. From Punjab and Haryana to Himachal Pradesh and the Union Territory of Chandigarh, she oversees reporting at the intersection of governance, law, politics and society. She also reports on the diaspora, especially in Canada and the US. With a career spanning journalism across several countries, academia and international development, Manraj brings a rare depth of perspective to regional reporting. She is widely regarded as a leading chronicler of Punjab’s contemporary history and socio-political evolution, particularly its long shadow of militancy, federal tensions and identity politics. Her book, Dreams after Darkness, remains a definitive account of the militancy years and their enduring aftermath. Professional Background & Expertise A gold medalist in mass communication and a post-graduate in English literature, Manraj has a multifaceted career spanning journalism, academia, and international development. She was also awarded a fellowship by National Foundation of India and did several in-depth pieces on Manipur. Internationally, she has reported from Israel, US, UK, Myanmar, and Mauritius Her key focus areas include: Regional Politics, History, Agriculture, Diaspora, and Security. Of late, she has started focusing on Legal & Judicial Affairs: Much of her recent work involves reporting on high-stakes cases in the Punjab and Haryana High Court, ranging from environmental policy to civil rights. International Consulting: She previously served as a consulting editor for the Asia Pacific Adaptation Network and a publishing consultant for the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in Manila. Academia: For five years, she was the managing editor of Gender, Technology and Development, a peer-reviewed international journal at the Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Her recent reportage focuses heavily on judicial interventions and regional governance: 1. Environment & Governance "‘NGT can’t test legality of policy’: HC hears challenge to Punjab’s ‘Green Habitat’ plan" (Dec 22, 2025): Covering a critical legal battle over whether the National Green Tribunal has the authority to strike down a state policy regularizing farmhouses on delisted forest land. "High court pulls up Punjab poll panel over audio clip probe" (Dec 10, 2025): Reporting on judicial concerns regarding the transparency and fairness of local body elections. 2. Legal Rights & Social Welfare "HC issues notice to Punjab, Haryana over delay in building old age homes" (Dec 22, 2025): Reporting on a contempt petition against top officials for failing to establish government-run homes for the elderly as promised in 2019. "Victims can appeal acquittals in sessions court without seeking special leave" (Dec 19, 2025): Highlighting a significant procedural shift in criminal law following a Supreme Court ruling. "HC upholds benefits for Punjab FCI officer acquitted in 20-year-old bribery case" (Dec 19, 2025): A report on the concept of "honourable acquittal" and its impact on employee benefits. 3. Human Rights & Identity "As Punjab denies parole to MP Amritpal Singh, HC asks it to submit ‘foundational material’" (Dec 1, 2025): Covering the legal proceedings regarding the radical preacher and sitting MP's request to attend Parliament. "Protecting life paramount: HC backs Muslim woman in live-in after verbal divorce" (Nov 6, 2025): Analyzing judicial protections for personal liberty in the context of traditional practices. Signature Beats Manraj is recognized for her ability to decode complex judicial rulings and relate them to the everyday lives of citizens. Whether it is a 30-year-old land battle in Fazilka or the political implications of Kangana Ranaut’s candidacy in Mandi, her writing provides deep historical and regional context. Contact @grewal_sharma on X manrajgrewalsharma on Instagram ... Read More

Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram

Loading Recommendations...

Mar 06: Latest News

Live Blog