India-China border situation is 'not normal': Army Chief Upendra Dwivedi

India's Army Chief, General Upendra Dwivedi, on Tuesday said that resolving the border dispute with China will depend on negotiations and remains a “sensitive” issue. Speaking in New Delhi, Dwivedi pointed out that conflict with China had led to a breakdown of trust and the border situation is “stable, but not normal.”

“The loss of trust is the biggest casualty,” Dwivedi said.

While there is some movement on the diplomatic side, Dwivedi said the military commanders will “sit together to see how this translates on the ground.”


“It is for diplomats to gives options and possibilities,” he said.

Dwivedi's remarks came after recent positive signals from both nuclear-powered nations' foreign ministers regarding progress in border talks. China's Defense Ministry recently stated that both sides have narrowed their differences and reached a broader consensus on troop withdrawal from certain border areas.

Political discussions have indicated a potential breakthrough in the military standoff in eastern Ladakh. These discussions featured meetings of the Working Mechanism for Consultation & Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC) on July 31 and August 29. Additionally, India's National Security Advisor Ajit Doval met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in September.

However, the last military corps commander talks on February 19 showed no progress, with China rejecting India's proposal to resolve face-offs in specific areas. Dwivedi asserted that military commanders would need to review how diplomatic movements translate on the ground, adding, “It is for diplomats to give options and possibilities.”

India and China, which share a 3,488-kilometer (2,167 miles) unmarked border, have been engaged in their worst border dispute in four decades since June 2020 clashes left 20 Indian and at least four Chinese troops dead. In response, both nations have positioned fighter jets, artillery, and missiles closer to the border, deploying thousands of troops in the process. Since the skirmish, India's government has also implemented further restrictions on Chinese businesses and investments. While multiple rounds of diplomatic and military discussions have taken place, leading to some progress, at least two key points of contention remain unresolved.

Despite several rounds of diplomatic and military talks showing incremental progress, at least two points of contention remain unresolved. Dwivedi noted that an acceptable solution for both sides is needed and underscored India's desire to return to pre-2020 border deployments. “The Indian military remains prepared for any eventuality,” he said.

Amid ongoing trust issues with China, India is preparing to keep its troops stationed along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) for a fifth consecutive winter. The preparations include maintaining troop presence in the harsh terrains of eastern Ladakh, Arunachal Pradesh, and Sikkim.

Despite ongoing political and diplomatic talks indicating "progress and narrowing of differences," top defence sources told TOI that "the trust deficit on the ground with the People's Liberation Army (PLA) remains very high." China continues to strengthen its military positions and build permanent defenses along the 3,488-km LAC, suggesting the PLA is not planning to return to peacetime locations soon.

The Indian Army is transitioning from its summer to winter posture, with significant winter stocking underway. General Upendra Dwivedi and commanders-in-chief of the Army's seven commands will review the operational situation in Gangtok, Sikkim, on October 9-10.