Ladakh

Flying of drones, UAVs banned in Leh district amid India-Pak tensions

Authorities in the Union Territory of Ladakh on Thursday prohibited flying of drones or Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) in Leh district, citing credible inputs and security concerns about their potential misuse by anti-national elements. District Magistrate of Leh, Santosh Sukhadeve, ordered the prohibition on flying of drones and UAVs by locals, tourists, or private persons and said any violation of the order shall attract strict legal action under relevant laws. "This order is issued ex-parte in the interest of public safety and security and shall remain in force until further notice," he said. The order was issued a day after Indian armed forces carried out missile strikes against terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. In view of the likelihood of threats to public safety, security installations, and the general public, the order said the Superintendent of Police, Leh has requested for issuing orders prohibiting flying of drones and UAVs by the gener

Ladakh safe; stakeholders demand removal of 'misleading' travel advisories

Concerned over the cancellations of bookings in the aftermath of a terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, the tourism stakeholders in the neighbouring Ladakh on Wednesday assured the foreign and domestic tourists of safe travel in the Union Territory (UT). They also demanded the removal of "misleading" travel advisories. Terrorists opened fire in Pahalgam on Tuesday afternoon, killing 26 people, mostly tourists, in what is the deadliest attack in the valley since the Pulwama strike in 2019. Ladakh observed a shutdown against the terror attack. The UT is also holding a candlelight vigil, jointly being organised by all religious groups representing Buddhist, Muslim and Christian communities besides trade and tourism associations here later in the day to express solidarity with the bereaved families. The "terrorism-free" region of Ladakh was separated from the erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir state in 2019 following the abrogation of Article 370. The two were made separate UTs. All Ladakh Ho

China's PLA ready to work with India for fair border solution, stable ties

The Chinese military on Thursday said it is willing to work with its Indian counterpart to implement a fair and just solution to the border issue besides sound and stable defence ties. A spokesman for China's National Defence, Sr. Col Wu Qian, made the remarks at a media briefing here while replying to a question about the disengagement and the follow-up process at the eastern Ladakh part of the Line of Actual Control (LAC). "The Chinese military is willing to work together with our Indian counterparts to implement a fair and just solution on the border issue, Wu told reporters. Wu said the Chinese military would also like to "contribute our wisdom and strength to the beautiful vision of a shared dance between the dragon and elephant and a sound and stable military-to-military relationship." The dragon elephant dance has become a constant theme of China of late as the two countries ended the over four-year freeze of relations after reaching agreement over the disengagement process

Implementing resolutions to end Ladakh conflict with India: China

Chinese Defence Ministry on Thursday said the militaries of India and China are implementing the resolutions to end the standoff in eastern Ladakh in a comprehensive and effective manner. At present, the Chinese and Indian militaries are implementing the resolutions related to the border areas in a compressive and effective manner, Chinese Defence Ministry Spokesman Sr Col Wu Qian told a media briefing here, replying to a question on the status of the normalisation of the situation in eastern Ladakh sector. We are ready to work with the Indian side to jointly preserve the peace and tranquility in the border areas, he said. India and China completed the disengagement process late last year after firming up a pact for withdrawal of troops from Depsang and Demchok, the last two friction points in eastern Ladakh ending over four years of freeze in ties. After finalisation of the pact, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks in Kazan in Russia on October

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India and China discuss Ladakh border during foreign secretary visit

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri was on a two-day visit to Beijing to improve India-China bilateral ties

Still a degree of standoff; broader understanding needed: Army chief on LAC

The situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) is sensitive but stable, Army Chief Gen Upendra Dwivedi said on Monday. Addressing a press conference ahead of the Army Day, Gen Dwivedi said there is still a degree of standoff in the region and efforts are needed to restore trust between the Indian and the Chinese militiaries. The Army chief said patrolling and grazing in traditional areas have started in Depsang and Demchok, the two friction points from where the two sides have disengaged in October. Our deployment is balanced and robust and we are capable of handling any situation, he said. We are focusing on boosting border infrastructure and capability development, the Army chief said on the overall LAC situation. On the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, he said it is overall under control and the ceasefire pact with Pakistani side is holding up along the Line of Control. At the same time, the Army chief said infiltration attempts are continuing and the terror infrastructur

No troop cuts at LAC this winter, summer review likely, says Army chief

The LAC in Ladakh remains 'sensitive but stable', says Army Chief Dwivedi, ruling out winter troop cuts while emphasising summer reviews contingent on trust and talks

India protests China's new counties in Hotan, cites Ladakh overlap: MEA

MEA also stated it will closely monitor the situation and take necessary steps to protect India's interests in response to China's plan to build a mega dam on the Brahmaputra river

Border areas, remote villages in Ladakh digitally connected: Army

Sustained efforts by the Army, in collaboration with telecom service providers, in the past five months has brought border areas and remote villages in Ladakh, including remote locations of Kargil and Siachen, on the digital connectivity map. In a post on X on Thursday, the Indian Army also shared a video of this journey and glimpses of the change it has brought to the lives of local people in the region. In its post captioned 'Indian Army for India's First Villages: Bringing Connectivity & Hope to Remote Areas', the Army said the border areas and remote villages in Ladakh were "devoid of 4G mobile connectivity" until June 2024. "This was depriving the local communities from being connected to the digital revolution in the nation. The Indian Army in collaboration with Bharti Airtel set out to ensure connectivity in these First Villages of India," it said. The Army further said the Leh-based Fire and Fury Corps "proactively engaged all the telecom service providers" and assisted ...

India, China reached consensus to restore ground situation in LAC: MoD

The statement said that although the situation along the LAC is stable, it is sensitive

India-China military standoff ends in Ladakh after 2024 border deal

It was a breakthrough year in India-China ties after a near freeze in their ties for over four years the longest since the 1962 war with an agreement to end the eastern Ladakh military standoff. After amassing of a large number of troops by China along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Eastern Ladakh in April-May 2020, as External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said in a recent statement in Lok Sabha, resulting in the Galwan valley clash in June 2020, there had been a breakdown in the relations between the two Asian giants. The post-1962 war chill lasted till the then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi's visit to Beijing in 1988. This time, the two countries held periodic talks between the top commanders and through the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination (WMCC), resulting in disengagement in stages from four points -- the Galwan Valley, the Pangong Lake, Hot Springs, and Gogra -- in eastern Ladakh by creating buffer zones. Finally, on October 21, India and China firmed

Indian forces reach all patrolling points in Depsang, Ladakh: Jaishankar

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Friday that security forces would be going to all patrolling points in Depsang in Ladakh and also to the eastward limit which are historically been India's patrolling limit. He said in Lok Sabha that the last of the disengagement agreement with China was related to Depsang and Demchok. "I want to convey that it was mentioned in my (previous) statement (in Parliament) that the understanding envisaged that Indian security forces would be going to all patrolling points in Depsang, and would be going to the eastward limit which are historically been our patrolling limit in that part," he said during Question Hour. The minister said in the same statement, he has made it clear that India had disengagement agreements with China in the past too. "Those disengagement agreements also had certain provisions where both sides on a temporary basis had agreed to put certain restraint on themselves. So I think the position is very clear in that ...

Oct's patrolling pact with China implemented with agreed timelines: Govt

The two sides reached the agreement on disengagement and patrolling in the last two friction points on October 21

Pali's recognition by PM Modi will boost Ladakh's culture: Tarun Chugh

Highlighting the universal values of peace and non-violence promoted by Lord Buddha, Chugh applauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi's unwavering commitment to spreading Buddhist philosophy

I see disengagement as disengagement, nothing more: EAM on Ladakh row

The disengagement part of the "problem" with China along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh has been addressed with last month's understanding and the next focus would be on de-escalation, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Saturday. Jaishankar described as a "reasonable supposition" to expect some improvement in the relations between India and China following the last round of disengagement but hesitated to say that there could be a reset of the ties. "I see disengagement as disengagement; nothing more, nothing less. If you look at our current situation with China, we have an issue where our troops are uncomfortably close along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) which required us to disengage," he said at the Hindustan Times Leadership Summit. "And this last understanding of October 21 is the last one of the disengagement agreements. So with its implementation the disengagement part of the problem is addressed," he said. Jaishankar's remarks came in respo

Defence forces seek green nod for ammunition storage expansion in Ladakh

The security force's proposals, moved between April and July, also include strengthening security at Lukung, a village near Pangong Tso, and in Durbuk

Indian Army successfully patrols key points in eastern Ladakh's Depsang

The Indian Army successfully patrolled one of the patrolling points in the Depsang area of eastern Ladakh on Monday, days after Indian and Chinese troops completed the disengagement at Depsang and Demchok, the two friction points in the region. The patrolling at Demchok began on Friday, a day after the completion of the troop disengagement process. "Following the consensus reached between the Indian and Chinese sides for disengagement and resumption of patrolling in Depsang and Demchok, the Indian Army patrol to one of the patrolling points in Depsang was successfully conducted today. This is yet another positive step towards maintaining peace and tranquility on the LAC," the Leh-based Fire and Fury Corps posted on X. It was not immediately known which patrolling point the troops patrolled. The Indian Army has commenced a verification patrolling at Depsang, the second friction point in eastern Ladakh, the government said on Saturday. Replying to a query at a weekly press briefing,

Indian Army commences verification patrolling in Depsang, confirms MEA

The Indian Army has commenced verification patrolling at Depsang, the second friction point in eastern Ladakh, the government said on Saturday. Patrolling at Demchok had begun on Friday, a day after the Indian and Chinese troops completed disengagement at the two friction points in eastern Ladakh. Replying to a query at a weekly press briefing, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said following the disengagement agreement with China, the verification patrolling has begun on mutually agreed terms in both Demchok and Depsang. On Thursday, Indian and Chinese troops also exchanged sweets at several border points along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) on the occasion of Diwali. The traditional practice was observed a day after both countries completed troop disengagement at the two friction points, bringing a fresh thaw in Sino-Indian ties. Sources had earlier said that the areas and patrolling status were expected to be moved back to pre-April 2020 level. Foreig

Indian Army begins patrolling in eastern Ladakh's Demchok: Report

The Indian Army began patrolling at Demchok on Friday, days after Indian and Chinese troops completed disengagement at the two friction points in eastern Ladakh, Army sources said. Patrolling at Depsang is expected to resume shortly, they said. Indian and Chinese troops have completed disengagement at two friction points at Demchok and Depsang Plains in eastern Ladakh and patrolling is set to commence soon at these points, Army sources had said on Wednesday. Indian and Chinese troops exchanged sweets at several border points along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) on the occasion of Diwali on Thursday. The traditional practice was observed a day after both the countries completed troop disengagement at the two friction points, bringing a fresh thaw in Sino-Indian ties. Patrolling has begun at Demchok, an Army source said. Sources had earlier said that the areas and patrolling status were expected to be moved back to pre-April 2020 level.