New Delhi: Indian Army Chief Gen VK Singh on Wednesday claimed that there were some 4,000 Chinese, including troops belonging to the People’s Liberation Army of China in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
The presence of the Chinese, including members of their defence forces, has been a matter of grave concern for India. But it’s the first time an Army Chief has gone public with India’s assessment about Chinese presence in AJK.
Earlier this year, Northern Army Commander Lt Gen KT Parnaik, while addressing a seminar in Jammu, had said that Chinese footprint in PoK was “increasing steadily” and its troops are “actually present” along the Line-of-Control.
“Chinese presence in Gilgit-Baltistan and the Northern Areas is increasing steadily… There are many people who are concerned about the fact that if there was to be hostility between us and Pakistan, what would be the complicity of Chinese. Not only they are in the neighbourhood but the fact that they are actually present and stationed along the LoC,” Lt. Gen Parnaik had said in April this year.
The Army Chief was more specific.” There are certain construction working teams, a large number is available. Around 3,000 to 4,000 of these people are present, including certain people for security purposes. There are certain engineers troops. Now (like) our own engineers are combat engineers. So, in some way they are part of the PLA,” Gen Singh told newspersons on Friday.
The statement comes against the backdrop of concerns in India about the presence and engagement of Chinese troops in AKJ, which is considered integral part of Jammu and Kashmir.
Indian Air Force Chief NAK Browne had recently said in an interview that increasing presence of China in AJK warranted India’s attention. New Delhi has already conveyed its concerns to China over the presence of its troops in AJK and its activities in that region.
Last year, there were reports of presence of about 11,000 Chinese troops in Jammu and Kashmir’s Gilgit-Baltistan region of Pakistan, but Beijing denied the reports.
“The terror infrastructure (across the LoC) is intact. A concentration of large number of terrorists on the other side exists and they are trying to infiltrate. We are making sure that their efforts fail,” the Army chief said.
Gen Singh said efforts are being made to step up infiltration from across the LoC, but the Army was alert and ready to face any threat.
Dear TNT Reader,
At The News Tribe, our mission is to bring you free, independent, and unbiased news and content that keeps you informed and empowered. We are committed to upholding the highest standards of journalism, as we understand that we are a platform for truth.
Apart from independent global news coverage, we also commit our unique focus on the Muslim world. In an age marked by the troubling rise of Islamophobia and widespread misrepresentation of Muslims in Western media, we strive to provide accurate and fair coverage.
But to continue doing so, we need your support. Even a small donation of 1$ can make a big difference. Your contribution will help us maintain the quality of our news and counteract the negative narratives that are so prevalent.
Please consider donating today to ensure we can keep delivering the news that matters. Together, we can make a positive impact on the world, and work towards a more inclusive, informed global society.
Donate Monthly Subscription Annual Subscription
