ITBP plans 10 more outposts on China front

NEW DELHI: The Indo-Tibetan Border Police has proposed 10 additional border outposts (BOPs) in Ladakh region adjoining China to maintain constant vigil, even as ITBP DG S S Deswal on Wednesday said there has been no protracted face-off with Chinese troops in the two years post-Doklam, thanks to mechanisms put in place by the two sides to immediately defuse such situations.

“There is an understood and agreed mechanism (between India and China) to find solutions to all situations arising on the border. And that mechanism is perfect and the border is safe and secure...Status quo is very well maintained,” Deswal said on the occasion of ITBP Raising Day. Stating that incursions are essentially linked to different perceptions of border by China and India, Deswal noted: “There are certain pockets along India-China border on which there are claims and counter-claims by the two sides. Both Indian and Chinese troops regularly patrol these disputed pockets.”

Another officer told TOI that in addition to 25 BOPs created along the India-China border in the past two years, of which seven were in Ladakh region, 10 more BOPs were recently proposed for Ladakh. The proposal is awai- ting sanction of the home ministry. If approved, it will enable further domination of the territory on which claims and counter-claims exist.