'Will not permit any...': New Army chief General Manoj Pande's stern message to China

Newly appointed Army chief General Manoj Pande on Sunday sent out a stern message to China that the elite force will not allow any change in the status quo and any loss of territory in the Eastern Ladakh region, where the two armies have been locked in a standoff for over two years. General Pande, however, said the standoff should be resolved through dialogue.

"The situation at the Line of Actual Control as of date is normal. The unilateral and provocative action by our adversary with an aim to alter the status quo by force has been adequately responded to... our troops are there in a very firm, resolute and peaceful manner and ensuring that there is no change in the status quo. We are very clear that we will not permit any change in the status quo and any loss of territory," he told ANI in an interview.

#WATCH | We are very clear that we will not permit any change in the status quo and any loss of territory: Army Chief General Manoj Pande to ANI on the India-China border issue pic.twitter.com/OzUyUSkcJJ

— ANI (@ANI) May 1, 2022

On the western front, General Pande said the situation has been peaceful since India and Pakistan's DGMOs arrived at an understanding to end ceasefire violations. 

"As far as the situation with Pakistan is concerned, the DGMOs arrived at an understanding a year ago that helped us in improve the situation for the civilian population on the ground on both sides of the LoC...On the contrary, we find that the number of terrorists operating has increased. Whilst on the LoC, the infiltration and violence levels have gone down but in the hinterland, there is no indication of that effect," he added.

On the Ukraine-Russia war, General Pande said the conflict has revealed that conventional wars aren't obsolete and India needs to focus on developing its capacity to fight such a conflict. He stressed the country must also build the capacity to wage information and cyberwar.

He also emphasised doing away with reliance on foreign weapons.

"We need to rely on our indigenous weapon systems and equipment and develop that capacity. To that extent, we're aligned with self-reliance and Make In India initiatives," he added.

General Pande took charge as the  Army chief on Saturday. He is the first officer from the engineers' corps to get the post.

On Sunday, General Pande said his first priority will be to advance the army's operation preparedness. He also talked about enhancing cooperation between the three armed forces and promoting made-in-India weapon systems. 

(With inputs from ANI)