The 1959 Claim Line, he
said, is a marvel of cartography to protect Aksai Chin and other areas seized
by China in the 1950s. "If we attempt to get back those areas, Chinese can
by the configuration of the 1959 claim line, close certain areas and usurp more
of our territory. For example, at the North of Pangong Tso from where all our
routes go to Hot Springs and Gogla, the distance from the northern edge of the
Pangong Tso to the Konkala Pass (Hot Springs and Gogla area) is 100 kms. They
have taken up the area up to Finger 4. So if they come another 30 to 40 kms
forward and choke us, then this 100 kms will also go."
General Panag said that in the Southern part of Ladakh, India had crossed the 59 claim line and used to patrol. "But now they have stopped us from patrolling. So they have reached the 59 claim line and we are not in a position to vacate them militarily."
Panag, whose defense analyses are read widely, a few months ago had said that by crossing the LAC, Chinese had gained everything and India lost everything. He had also predicted that India would lose the commanding heights of the Kailash range to China. "But I have revised my assessment now to say that the disengagement is the forerunner of a macro plan which may lead to an all-encompassing agreement where we accept the 59 claim line in Ladakh with buffer zones to save face and also a demilitarized zone of 20 kms."
He said it was the most pragmatic solution for India to accept the '59 Claim Line with buffer zones. In the present situation, it is the best bet if it leads to peace for another 30 years.
General Panag said that in the Southern part of Ladakh, India had crossed the 59 claim line and used to patrol. "But now they have stopped us from patrolling. So they have reached the 59 claim line and we are not in a position to vacate them militarily."
Panag, whose defense analyses are read widely, a few months ago had said that by crossing the LAC, Chinese had gained everything and India lost everything. He had also predicted that India would lose the commanding heights of the Kailash range to China. "But I have revised my assessment now to say that the disengagement is the forerunner of a macro plan which may lead to an all-encompassing agreement where we accept the 59 claim line in Ladakh with buffer zones to save face and also a demilitarized zone of 20 kms."
He said it was the most pragmatic solution for India to accept the '59 Claim Line with buffer zones. In the present situation, it is the best bet if it leads to peace for another 30 years.
"If we get another 30 years, then we will be in a position to create the desired military capability, build up our economy, reduce the gap, not that we can catch up with China but to the extent between the US and China. There is still a huge gap between the US and China but China is no longer a pushover for the US. What China gains out of it is that if there is no quarrel left with India, New Delhi has no reason to ally with the US to contest China."
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