Army’s Plan for Summer Deployment in Ladakh Begins

Despite the establishment of buffer zones in areas such as Galwan Valley, north and south banks of Pangong Tso, and the Gogra-Hot Springs area, legacy issues like Depsang Plains and Demchok remain unresolved. The situation at the LAC has been assessed as very fragile and dangerous by External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar.

The force's summer strategy aims to enhance tactical dominance, exhibit strategic strength, and improve the comfort of troops in the region. There are currently over 50,000 troops from India and China positioned in Ladakh since the standoff began in 2020. According to senior officials, the Indian Army will closely monitor the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and buffer zones as troops shift to a summer posture in eastern Ladakh. Adequate reserves will be kept to handle unforeseen incidents.

To avoid confrontations on the LAC, India will conduct validation exercises, including regular reconnaissance through unmanned aerial vehicles and helicopters, and standalone cameras will be set up for areas that cannot be patrolled regularly. The Army will follow existing protocols, mobilise reserves and logistics, and focus on LAC dominance through new posts within 1 km of the border and battalion locations closer to the main axis, including buffer zones. The Army plans to reduce the number of Rashtriya Rifles companies from six to four, and additional battalions may be inducted from J&K. Managing road space is a top priority, with better road infrastructure and winter stocking for 200 days. India has boosted infrastructure development along the LAC through construction projects such as roads, bridges, tunnels, helipads, and troop shelters. The Army has upgraded communication links in the region. The next round of talks between India and China will focus on resolving remaining friction points at the LAC, and the outcome will refine the summer strategy to handle border tensions.