In October 2024, the standoff at Depsang and Demchok, two key friction points between both armies in Eastern Ladakh, was resolved.”The patrolling of traditional areas in these two sub-sectors has commenced. Similarly, traditional grazing has also commenced in these two areas. I have authorised all my co-commanders to handle these issues at the ground level with respect to patrolling and grazing so that these trivial issues can be resolved at the military level itself… Two rounds of verification patrolling have been completed, and both sides are satisfied,” Gen. Dwivedi said.”Our deployment along LAC is balanced and robust. We are well poised to deal with any situation. A focus capability development for northern borders enabled infusion of niche technology into a war-fighting system,” the army chief added.On the buffer zones established following the Galwan valley clash, Gen. Dwivedi clarified that “there is no such thing as a buffer zone. A temporary moratorium was agreed upon during negotiations to prevent troops from entering disputed areas and risking violence.”He further outlined the Indian Army’s progress in bolstering capabilities along the northern borders, stating that “capability development is progressing well.”Bangladesh ‘strategically important’The Army Chief also spoke about Bangladesh, emphasising its strategic importance to India, and added that animosity between Dhaka and New Delhi is not in the interest of either country.”We are neighbours. We have to live together, understand each other, and any kind of animosity is not in each other’s interest,” Gen. Dwivedi said. “I’ll take your mind back to the comment which was made by the Bangladesh [army] chief recently,” he said in response to a question. “That ‘India is strategically important to us’. And the same is vice versa. Bangladesh is strategically important to us…As of today, firstly there is no vulnerability from any side,” Gen. Dwivedi said. “I am in touch with the chief of Bangladesh during the time of when the changeover took place. I was in constant touch with him. And even after, we had a video conference on Nov 24,” he added.
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