Army Sends Two More Brigades To Ladakh, Moves Troops In Himachal And Uttarakhand Closer To Border

Just months after the stand-off in Doklam was resolved, Indian Army has moved two additional brigades, around 8,000 soldiers, to eastern Ladakh, India Today has reported. The army has also deployed new formations in relatively peaceful areas such as Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, the report said.

In Uttarakhand and Himachal, the army has also moved brigades deployed in a rear position to forward areas near Pithoragarh.

"In Himachal Pradesh, there was one sector which has now been converted into new brigade in the area bordering the Chinese territory. While in Uttarakhand, a brigade has been sent from a rear position to Pithoragarh in the Kumaon hills of the state," Mail Today quoted a source as saying.

This move comes amid fears of Chinese incursions as a reaction to India’s efforts to stall People’s Liberation Army’s attempt to build a memorable road in Bhutanese territory. India had moved troops to the region, forcing China to stop its illicit construction activity in territory claimed by Bhutan.

India was able to play hardball and hold its own due to its relative advantage in the area. The same may not be true for Ladakh, where China is in a relatively advantageous position. Therefore, the decision to move new brigades should be seen as one taken to strengthen India’s defences in the region against Chinese incursions.