New Delhi

Chief of Army Staff General Manoj Mukund Naravane said on Wednesday that the Indian Army is maintaining the highest levels of operational preparedness in Ladakh while continuing to engage with the People's Liberation Army (PLA) of China in dialogue.

"On the northern borders, we have continued to maintain the highest levels of operational preparedness while at the same time, engaging with the People's Liberation Army through dialogue," General Naravane told journalists.

The COAS said the threat from the PLA has not been reduced.  

"While there has been a partial disengagement, the threat has by no means reduced. The threat assessment and internal deliberations that we have carried out from time to time have resulted in some reorganisation and realignment of the same in keeping with our army's mandate of ensuring our territorial integrity," General Naravane said.

"This also caters to the major augmentation that has taken in the PLA forces and their infrastructure. While we will continue to deal with PLA in a firm and resolute manner, necessary safeguards are in place to take care of any contingency," he said.

He described the disengagements at several points along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) over the past year as positive development.

"After persistent joint efforts, mutual disengagement has occurred at many locations of which I have been telling you from time to time. So, that definitely is a positive development that has happened over the last year. As we speak, the 14th round of the Core Commander talks are underway and I am hopeful that you should see further development in the days ahead," he added.

The 14th round of Corps Commander-level talks between India and China began Wednesday morning at the Chushul-Moldo meeting point on the Chinese side.

The Indian side is looking forward to constructive dialogue for resolving the remaining friction areas, said Indian Army officials.

New Delhi and Beijing have held 13 rounds of talks to resolve the standoff along the Line of Actual Control in eastern Ladakh.

General Naravane also said that there was an increase in the concentration of terrorists in various launch pads in the western front and there have been repeated infiltration attempts across the Line of Control.

"On the western front, there is an increase in the concentration of terrorists in various launch pads and there have been repeated attempts of infiltration across the LAC. This once exposes the nefarious designs of our western neighbor," he said.