In Pictures: Army, Air Force Practise Rapid Deployment Of Special Forces Along China Border As Tensions On LAC Escalate

The Indian Army and Air Force are practising rapid deployment of troops in the Eastern Theatre using fixed and rotary wing platforms amid rising tensions between India and China.

These exercises will allow the Indian Army move specialised troops and equipment close to the Line-of Actual Control (LAC) to deter any Chinese military misadventure on the LAC.

The exercise is significant as the tensions between India and China escalates over the Chinese announcing names of eleven Indian villages and mountain peaks in the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh. This was followed by a visit of the Union Home Minister Amit Shah to 'Kibithoo', a town close to LAC in Arunachal Pradesh, under Government of India's 'Vibrant Villages' program.

The Home Minsiter in his visit said "Today, we say with pride that gone are the days when anybody could encroach on India's land. Today, we can proudly say that no one can encroach even a tip of a pin's worth of our land because ITBP and Indian Army are present at our borders".

The visit resulted in a sharp reaction from the Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson, calling the Union Minister's visit as violating Beijing's territorial sovereignty and not 'conducive' to peace and tranquillity along the border".

India has, last month as well, conducted another rapid mobility exercise codenamed 'Vayu Prahaar' in the Eastern sector, where the Air Force and Army again jointly practiced moving a large number of troops close to LAC in a short period.