Thread by @nitingokhale

Some updates on LAC situation: Its a battle of heights now in Ladakh. Having outrun the Chinese in the race to the top on 30 Aug except Black Top and Helmet heights (Gurung Hill, Magar Hills, Rezang La and Richen La under Indian control), India has consolidated defences there

After the first phase deployment by infantry units at dawn on 30th Aug India managed to drive up tanks at Richin La in broad daylight that Sunday evening surprising the Chinese even more. Since then full consolidation has happened on those heights.

Since then India has strengthened defences not just on South Bank of Pangong Tso but also on the North Bank. Indian troops now occupy highest points at Finger 4, stationing themselves above the Chinese presence on the lower heights of the ridge line.

PLA is now trying to come closer to the Indian positions on Finger 4 which are at a higher elevation. All the PLA deployments on the north shores of the lake are dominated by India’s latest move. In effect, the Indian Army has outsmarted the PLA on both sides of Pangong Tso

After firing incident on 7th evening, reservations about not using firearms along the LAC have been removed which means situation is most volatile than ever before. Not only are tanks ranged against each other (especially in the Spanggur area), tense troops are facing off here

So what next? India thinks the Chinese will attempt a quid pro quo (occupying unheld areas) in some other sectors to provoke an Indian response. The question is: when will it happen? One educated guess is, anytime before 15 November, when winter will begin in the Ladakh Mountains

India is of course prepared although another assessment is China wants to win without fighting. One more assessment says PLA doesn’t have the stomach to accept losses or prepared to sit at the forbidding heights through the harsh winters.

Thursday’s meeting between @DrSJaishankar’s and China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Moscow will be an important indicator which way the situation is headed.