Ladakh Standoff: India until now sourced high-altitude kits mainly from Europe or China. (File)
India has bought high altitude warfare kits from the U.S. on an urgent basis, officials with the knowledge of the matter said, a sign that the country is preparing for an extended winter deployment after talks to ease tensions along its border with China stalled.
The Indian Army used an agreement which allows the two militaries to take logistical assistance from each other such as buying fuel and spare parts for warships and aircraft, for the transaction, the officials said, asking not to be identified given rules for speaking to the media. The Logistics Exchange Memorandum Agreement signed in August 2016 aims to promote interoperability between the two militaries.
The worst standoff between the Asia neighbors in four decades has prompted India and China to move thousands of troops, tanks and missiles to the Himalayan border, while fighter jets are on stand-by. The rush to acquire the gear shows the situation will extend into the winter. The troops face off at 15,000 feet, with temperatures dropping to -30 Celsius (-22 Fahrenheit).
Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi pledged in September to reduce tensions along the 3,488-kilometer (2,167-mile) boundary known as the Line of Actual Control.
Military and diplomatic talks on troop disengagement are "a work in progress," S Jaishankar told investors and analysts at the Bloomberg India Economic Summit on Thursday.
India until now sourced high-altitude kits for its defense forces mainly from Europe or China. S K Saini, the second-highest ranking general in the Indian Army, is on a scheduled visit to the U.S. Army Pacific Command to discuss other emergency purchases and building capabilities.
The Indian Army did not comment on the high altitude warfare kits, but confirmed the visit of one of its top generals to the U.S. A spokesperson at the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi didn't immediately respond to a text message seeking comment.