Army Chief Naravane clarifies on LAC standoff, says 'there is nothing new'

Army Chief MM Naravane cleared air over recent incidents of an aggressive stand-off between India and Chinese troops at Sikkim and Lakh border on Thursday. Brushing it off as 'thing new', Army Chief assured that situation is being dealt as per protocols laid down between two countries and in accordance with strategic guidelines. Naravane, who recently visited Easter and South-Western Command where incidents took place, stated that incidents should t be viewed as any 'part of a coordinated plan.'

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Speaking to ANI, COAS Naravane said, "I have just come back from Eastern and South-Western Command. I have h opportunity to meet our troops and commanders on ground and I am happy to say that everyone's morale is very high. We are totally prepared to meet all our challenges and tasks which are given out to us."

'LAC is t defined'

Reflecting upon stand-off incidents at Sikkim and Lakh border, he clarified that it was thing new and was only because of different perceptions of both sides on where Line of Actual Control (LAC) runs.

He said, "As far as situation on rrn borders is concerned, as you are aware that LAC is t very defined, re are different perceptions on where LAC runs. Accordingly, both sides patrol up to ir accepted claim line and refore when patrols reach at same place at same time n such face-offs do occur."

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Furrmore, he ded, "y have occurred in past and re is thing new in what has happened in last week or 10 days. It is just a matter of chance that face-offs in Eastern Lakh and Sikkim happened during same period. We should t re too much into this that it is a part of a coordinated plan or anything like that and r do se incidents have any connection to any domestic or international situations as it is prevailing today. But we will deal with it as per protocols laid down between two countries and in accordance with strategic guidelines."

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