India deploys additional 50,000 troops along China border: Report

Over the past few months, India has moved an additional 50,000 troops to its border with China, a report by Bloomberg said. This comes a year after the deadliest conflict between India and China in Galwan valley along the LAC.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has diverted his prime concentration from Pakistan to China after last year’s months-long stand-off in eastern Ladakh that became violent on June 20 and 20 Indian soldiers were killed.

India has moved troops and fighter jet squadrons to three distinct areas along its border with China, Bloomberg reported quoting four people familiar with the matter. According to Bloomberg sources, India has now deployed 200,000 troops, an increase of over 40% since last year, along the border with China.

Also Read | PLA carries out exercises in northern front of Ladakh, Indian Army keeps close watch

According to one of Bloomberg’s sources, India’s move of deploying additional soldiers will give Indian commanders more options, if needed, to attack and seize territory in China in a strategy that is called “offensive defense.”

India has detected that China’s PLA has also recently moved additional forces from Tibet to the Xinjiang Military Command, however, the number is still unclear, Bloomberg reported.

China has also added fresh runway buildings, bomb-proof bunkers to house fighter jets, and new airfields along the disputed, the sources said, quoted Bloomberg, adding that Beijing over the last few months, has added long-range artillery, tanks, rocket regiments and twin-engine fighters.