Defence Minister Rajnath Singh paid tribute to the soldiers who lost their lives in the Galwan Valley clash between India and China three years ago. He stated that their bravery will continue to inspire future generations. India lost 20 soldiers, but they inflicted heavy damage on the Chinese army during the clash.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar stated that India is not swayed by coercion, false narratives or inducements. However, he added that India and China must find a way to avoid potential confrontation in the western Himalayas. The Indian army formations deployed near the Galwan Valley have undertaken a range of activities to prevent possible Chinese aggression.
The relationship between India and China has been impacted following the Galwan clashes, and both sides have done forward deployment. Jaishankar stated that the troops’ deployment issue must be resolved, and disengagement is a detailed process.
On the third anniversary of the Galwan Valley clash, top military officers stationed along the Line of Actual Control in Eastern Ladakh discussed operational preparedness to strengthen their region. The Northern Army Command, in charge of the Ladakh sector, has been provided with a new formation, the One Strike Corps.
Delhi and Beijing reached an agreement in February 2021 to disengage from the 135-km Pangong Lake, creating buffer zones. Over 50,000 Indian soldiers had been stationed from 2020 onwards to prevent any attempts to unilaterally change the status quo on the LAC.
