Ladakh Standoff: evil designs IN POTL

In the meantime when ever-increasing tension with China, India may also face serious threat from its north-western borders. In past years, the alliance between China and Pakistan has been actively involved in conspiracies against India. At present, Chinese military activities are being seen in the occupied areas of Pakistan during the aggressive activities in the Ladakh region of China, which is an indication that in a war-like situation, China with the cooperation of Pakistan, will try to launch a new war front from northwest against India.

During Ladakh standoff, Pakistan has moved two divisions of troops along the LoC in occupied Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan in POTL(Pakistan Occupied territories of Ladakh) region and Peoples liberation Army and Chinese civilian officials are holding talks regularly with cadres of a terrorist outfit like Al Badr which has a long history of terrorist activities in J&K. Al-Badr was banned by India under The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 2004. On 27 April 2005 State Department of United States Government identified Al-Badr as a terrorist organisation in its list of 40 Foreign Terrorist Organisations. Al-Badr is currently on the U.S. State Department list of Designated Foreign Terrorist Organisations. But this is proven eligibility to be a counterpart in the anti-India agenda.

This action is clearly to support Chinese deployments on the LAC in the eastern frontier. According to the sources, there have been a series of meetings between Chinese and Pakistani officials in recent weeks, after that mass mobilizations of troops occurred in Gilgit-Baltistan region, the area that adjoins Ladakh from the north. The heavy military buildup comes at a time when large numbers of Chinese troopes have been deployed along LAC in eastern Ladakh, apart from encroachment activities at several important points which became the cause of standoff.

India has been also vigil on airbases located in Pakistan-occupied Jammu Kashmir and occupied Ladakh territory after a Russia made Chinese refueller aircraft, Ilyushin Il-78 landed in Skardu earlier this week. More than 40 Chinese fighter jets J10, have been witnessed in Skardu in the month of June itself, it clearly shows Chinese air activity has increased in occupied eastern Ladakh, which raises the possibility of Chinese Air Force- PLAAF using airbases in Gilgit-Baltistan. This is notable that PLAAF runs 3 important airbases in around Tibet, including Kashgar, Hotan, and Nagri Gurgunsa, with Hotan, have the highest number of combat assets. But these three airbases have certain limitations to take action against India. The distance from Kashgar to Leh is 625 km, Leh to Khotan is 390 km and Leh to Gurgunsa is 330 km. All these airbases are located in Tibet at an altitude of over 11000 feet.

POTL based Skardu has a strategic edge in this matter. Since Skardu is merely 100 kms away from Leh and is much closer than any Chinese airbase. Skardu airbase was also upgraded by Pakistani army last year and it was used by Pakistani JF 17s on their way to the PLAAF base at Hotan for a joint exercise like “Shaheen VIII”. There are two runways at Skardu airbase one of which is 2.5 km and another is 3.5 km long. This is providing a great facility in such a high altitude theater of war for Chinese fighter jets which can easily proceed and return.

However, Pakistan has categorically denied the cooperation that Pakistan is providing to China. Pakistan army’s media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations Director General Maj Gen Babar Iftikhar, stated via Twitter, that there was no truth to Chinese troops using the Skardu Airbase, saying that the reports were "false, irresponsible and far from the truth". He further said that "No such movement or induction of additional forces has taken place. We also vehemently deny the presence of Chinese troops in Pakistan."

But the credibility of the Pakistan Army has always been doubtful. It has always explicitly denied its role in the export of terrorism in the region and the world. Pakistan is not in a position to deny China even if it is want to do so, because of highly in debt trap. And when the matter is against India, Pakistan may not want to deny it. In this situation, it is necessary for India to remain alert on both fronts.