Indian army secures all tactical heights in the south of Pangong Tso, prepares for hybrid warfare with China 

  

The presence of an electronic warfare battalion and a chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) defence battalion shows how much importance the Chinese gives it in its implementation of hybrid warfare concepts. 

                                          

Biswabrata Goswami

Hummingbird News

This article written by Soma Mookherjee, City Editor at The Statesman

In the wake of Indo-China faceoff, Indian Army in the last couple of weeks secured all tactical heights in the south bank of Pangong Tso Lake to Tsaka La that includes Helmet, Black Top, Gurung Hill, Magar Hill, Mukhpari, Rezang La and Rechin La. 

This sudden tactical, strategic and surprise move by Indian Army has largely changed the battle lines and areas of domination.

This sector of northeast Ladakh witnessed bitter battle in the 1962 Indo-China war. 

It is clearly an advantage to India in the area of south of Pangong Tso, said Grp Captain (rtd) R K Das.

The Chinese made gains in the last four months in Depsang,Galwan,Hot Springs-Gorga-Kugrang and North of Pangong Tso area and thus People Liberation Army(PLA) nibbling into Indian territory.

Grp Captain said that this gave China,a position of advantage to make strategy gains in a limited war in terms of territory on Daulat Beg Oldi,Hot Springs- Gorge-Kugrang and north of Pangong Tso areas.

Mr Das said, “Though Indian Army's action to swiftly take over the dominating heights of the south bank of Pangong Tso is an advantage for the Indian Army but one should not be overtly happy with this turn of events.”

He felt that the Chinese Army is likely to come hard at us once they get their additional reinforcements and catch Indian forces in a sudden surprise attack. 

Over 50,000 troops of PLA are amassed across the LAC which India considers the actual position, a similar number have taken up position from Indian side.

More than one lakh soldiers backed by tanks, howitzers, Infantry personnel carriers and air defence elements in a face off situation in the most desolate and inhospitable yet beautiful places one can imagine. Both sides have probably the finest military men, trained and committed to fight.

The geographical and terrain conditions couldn’t be harsher. The weather by this time of the year gets very cold. Icy bone chilling cold winds are difficult to bear at the valley floe, said Mr Das.

The entire stretch in Eastern Ladakh ranging from the sector DBO (Daulat Beg Oldi) to down south east in Demchok is bustling with activity on a war footing on both sides of the LAC. In the centre of this North south axis is the much patronized lake Pangong Tso. The entire stretch is a series of ridges with wide valley’s more towards the southern part. The northern axis has narrower valleys.

Chinese had a head start over India in getting its act together in amassing its forces right after mid May, therefore it is better dug in as of now. The Chinese have been quick to reinforce their troops in Aksai Chin facing India’s XIV Corps. Some of these additional forces had come in earlier as part of the pre-planned push to secure Indian Territory, said Grp Capt.

He said, the 6th Highland Mechanised Infantry Division now occupies jumping-off points in the Chinese half of Depsang Plains. It consists of 7 Mechanised Infantry Regiment, 18 Mechanised Infantry Regiment and an armoured regiment. Combat support consists of a field artillery regiment, an air defence regiment, a combat engineer battalion, an electronic warfare battalion and a chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) defence battalion.

The presence of the latter two units shows how much importance the Chinese gives it in its implementation of hybrid warfare concepts. The divisional reconnaissance battalion is a small, lithe unit for scouting and flank protection tasks. Its mainstays are eighteen ZBD-04A infantry fighting vehicles armed with AFT-10 anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs). These are the divisional commander’s eyes and ears. The division HQ has an infantry company and air defence platoon for its protection.

“The Indian response to the Chinese build up has been no less. We have matched the Chinese strength by our own forces. XIV Corps of the Indian Army is given the ominous task not only to defend every inch of Indian territory but also launch offensive action as and when required. Indian Tanks, field guns, BMP’s (Infantry Combat vehicles), Signals and Communications, Combat engineers and reserves are mobilized and matching the Chinese strength. The SFF and ITBP too are deployed.”

Grp Captain (rtd,) R K Das said, in this situation the onus is on the young company commanders, CO’s and JCO’s to keep the mental resolve of the soldiers to calm down and hold their nerves even under grave provocation - eye ball to eye ball.

He said battle lines are drawn and the resources primed for action. The question is who will blink first!