Post Violent Faceoff At Galwan Valley, Indian Army Changes Weapon Rules Along LAC

Galwan Valley clash seems to be stopping the headlines ever since China made a move in the wrong direction much to the disappointment of India.

While the outbreak of coronavirus has made political leaders sleepless over management of the pandemic, the India-China standoff over the Ladakh border has kept top Indian leadership on its toes.

Only this morning, defence minister Rajnath Singh convened an urgent high-level meeting with Army Chief Gen. MM Naravane, CDS Gen. Bipin Rawat, and tri-services chief.

In his meeting it was made clear that the armed forces at the border will be given full freedom to forcefully deal with any Chinese aggression along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). This message sent out a loud and clear message that India will not step back from taking the extreme step should things turn nasty at the border.

Now, in latest development, the field commanders have been empowered with the liberty to use firearms under extraordinary conditions thereby changing the rules of engagement along the LAC with China.

As per the agreements signed in 1996 and 2005, neither side can open fire on each other. The deal also prohibited use of explosive devices within a range of 2kms on either sides of the LAC.

Now, this sudden change of rules by India is seen as retaliation for losing its 20 soldiers who were killed by the Chinese troops in the Galwan Valley clash. While the number of Chinese casualties is said to outnumber that of Indian soldiers, there is no official communication from the Chinese side about the same.

Hu Xijin, the editor-in-chief of Global Times, the Chinese Government's mouthpiece, reacted to the new changes made by India and said that India will have to pay a heavy price as this new move was in violation of the agreement.

Meanwhile, back home the opposition parties are up in arms against the Narendra Modi government saying that intelligence failure had led to border tension between the neighbours.