The nefarious country of China and its PLA troops on the intervening night of 28-29 August tried to pull another Galwan valley-esque coup on the southern bank of the Pangong Lake area in eastern Ladakh, however, a covert Indian unit this time around has given a bloody nose to the Chinese troops who have conceded a dominating position in the area and are now accusing Indian forces of entering in Chinese territory.
India’s secretive Special Frontier Force (SFF) took a pre-emptive measure against the Chinese PLA at Eastern Ladakh where China was stepping up its salami-slicing tactics and military buildup.
“Indian troops pre-empted this PLA activity on the southern bank of Pangong lake, and undertook measures to strengthen our positions and thwart Chinese intentions to unilaterally change facts on the ground,” a statement issued by the Indian Army stated.
Meanwhile, the PLA’s Western Theatre Command is trying to use reverse psychology to get Indian forces to vacate the domination position. ,
“#China strongly opposes the acts and urges #India to immediately withdraw the troops that have illegally crossed the LAC” tweeted Global Times—a CCP mouthpiece.
#China strongly opposes the acts and urges #India to immediately withdraw the troops that have illegally crossed the LAC: PLA Western Theater Command https://t.co/uDaCoRyq0b
— Global Times (@globaltimesnews) August 31, 2020
According to several news reports, India has now captured a key height which gives it a strategic advantage in the Pangong Tso frontier, as China’s unprecedented military buildup and provocations have lasted for months.
China has deployed heavy and light tanks in the area and they are within engaging distance of Indian positions. The Indian forces at Kala Top, however, are fully armed and with tank and artillery support.
Because of dominant positions held by India’s Special Frontier Force (SFF) at Kala Top and army units on other adjoining heights, movement of Chinese tanks and machinery has been halted
Brigadier level negotiations are on but China is refusing to comply by the LAC.
As an Indian commando unit and Army forces dominate a series of heights on the Pangong's south bank, Indian and Chinese tanks within range of each other as talks continue at Moldo. My report. https://t.co/3ecIRt7TX9 pic.twitter.com/AWZIv4Bm8I
— Shiv Aroor (@ShivAroor) September 1, 2020
The thwarting of another transgression activity by China is especially sweet because the secret unit that foiled Beijing’s plan comprises of Tibetan recruits who have been living in exile in India.
Special Frontier Force (SFF) is a covert Indian paramilitary unit that operates under the Directorate General of Security (DGS), a wing of India’s external intelligence agency R&AW. Earlier it used to exclusively recruit the Tibetans but the Gorkhas are also a part of it now.
The DGS, in fact, predates it and was set up in 1962 after the India-China border war. The unit, also known as Establishment 22 and ‘Vikas’ is officered by the Indian army and recruits its personnel from among the Tibetan diaspora settled in India. Its personnel has participated in India’s various wars, from 1971 to the 1999 Kargil War.
Strictly speaking, the SFF units are not part of the Army but they function under the operational control of the Army. The units have their own rank structures which have equivalent status with Army ranks. However, they are highly trained special forces personnel who can undertake a variety of tasks that would normally be performed by any special forces unit.
The recent clashes between India and China show that Beijing’s fears of losing occupied Indian territories are coming true. China’s attempt to change the ‘status quo’ has been met with an effective and strong response. The covert SSF has shown its capabilities and the PLA troops are looking for cover on the southern bank. The Tibetans that have been fighting for Independence from China must have felt at peace after receiving the news of the poetic-justice delivered by the SFF soldiers.
