The Indian Army’s 17 Mountain Strike Corps has been given a significant boost in the manner of 10,000 additional troops and firepower to perform out its activities across the China border.
In the event of a war, the 17 Mountain Strike Corps is the Indian Army’s sole strike corps responsible for carrying out offensive operations against China. Its capabilities have been enhanced at a time when India and China have been locked in a military standoff for more than a year.
“One formation with approximately 10,000 troops has been designated to the Panagarh-based 17 Mountain Strike Corps, which will assist it in expanding its operations in its areas of expertise,” a senior government source said.
The 17 Mountain Strike Corps was approved by the central government nearly a decade ago. It did, however, have only one division attached to it. According to the source, with the future trend, it will now have more firepower and resources at its discretion to carry out its assigned projects.
The Indian Army has also undergone significant rebalancing in recent years, with a number of formations being assigned dual tasks. Following the standoff in Eastern Ladakh last year, they have been directed to concentrate their efforts on the China border.
Meanwhile, the Indian Army and other security forces have begun returning to their summer deployments in the Ladakh sector and other mountainous areas along the Line of Actual Control.
Since last year, the Indian and Chinese armies have had a large number of troops stationed along the border. The formations of the Mathura-based One Strike Corps have also been reoriented toward the Northern border, with one of its armoured formations remaining with it.
Other sectors’ rollout of formations and troops has also been reinforced. The Indian Army was able to obtain withdrawal from the Finger area thanks to tactical operations along the southern bank of Pangong Lake.
Talks are now being exchanged between the two sides in order to further disengage and de-escalate from other points of friction in the area.