SMALL ARMS NOT TAKEN ON ORDERS FROM TOP BRASS?

It was feared that armed movement may trigger a conflict that may sabotage the truce negotiations between the two sides

India would not have suffered multiple casualties -- 20 slain soldiers, including their commander Col. Subhash Babu, and critical injuries to a score of others -but for the orders to go unarmed to the Chinese PLA (Peoples Liberation Army) camp.

These orders came from the top military brass, defence expert Pravin Sawhney claimed on Wednesday.

The orders were followed to the hilt and that explains why "no bullets were fired in the clash."

Such orders emanated from the top as it was feared that armed movement may trigger a conflict that may sabotage the truce negotiations between the two commanders.

The Army moves fully armed for any eventuality when face to face with the enemy, but this time the Commanding Officer went unarmed with a small contingent to check on Monday night whether the Chinese had dismantled the tents they had pitched on Indian territory.

The Chinese had withdrawn from the tents, but stationed themselves high in the hills to take advantage of the high altitude ridge to attack the Indian troops below.

That explains why in this era of modern warfare, the two sides clashed with stones and iron clubs, a throwback to medieval times.

The army is now expected to change the decade-old rules of engagement with China, which stipulate that in a violent face-off, soldiers are not to open fire.

The Galwan Valley in eastern Ladakh has strategic significance for India because of its proximity to the vital road link to Daulat Beg Oldie (DBO), the world's highest landing ground. This air strip lies close to the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and serves as an important aerial supply line. The DBO area is known in the Army as Sub-Sector North.

India is developing border infrastructure in this area, including an all-weather 255-km Darbuk-Shyok-DBO road that runs almost parallel and at places very close to the LAC, extending up to the base of Karakoram Pass.

When completed, this road will reduce the travel time from Leh to DBO from two days at present to just six hours. Road and bridge construction works have recently been speeded up with a large number of labourers being moved in.

This is one of the reasons why China is peeved with the Indian side: it serves to expose its own infrastructure on the Tibet side. Control of the ridgeline along the Valley also allows domination of the road. Looking eastwards, control of the Galwan valley gives access to the Aksai Chin plateau, through which a part of the Xinjiang-Tibet highway passes. While the road is highly prone to Chinese interdiction or long-range artillery, it serves a vital peacetime role in maintaining forward posts and building up reserves. An alternative road to DBO is being built from a different axis in Ladakh that has adequate depth from the LAC. The Galwan river flows westward from the disputed Aksai Chin region into Ladakh after originating in Samzungling area on the eastern side of the Karakoram range and joins he Shyok river, one of the tributaries of the Indus. The fast flowing river runs for about 80 km.

This river is to the west of China's 1956 claim line in Aksai Chin. However, in 1960 China advanced its claim line to the west of the river along the mountain ridge adjoining the Shyok river valley. India had established some military posts in this sector. During the 1962 conflict, the Indian posts in the Galwan sector were attacked by the Chinese resulting in casualties. After the war, this sector remained dormant till the recent face-offs.