Can’t ignore China, warns MoD report

India is boosting its force structure and ramping up infrastructure along its borders to counter China’s growing force projection capability, said a defence ministry report.

India is boosting its force structure and ramping up infrastructure along its borders to counter China’s growing force projection capability, said a defence ministry report.

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The report, released on Monday, said that rapid infrastructure development in the Tibet Autonomous Region and Xinjiang province had “considerably upgraded China’s military force projection capability and strategic operational flexibility”.

While India-China relations were on the upswing last year, the report said, New Delhi “remained conscious and alert about the implications of China’s military modernisation”.

“Necessary steps have been initiated for the upgradation of our infrastructure and force structuring… along the northern borders,” it mentioned.

The report slammed Pakistan for the continuing infiltration from across the Line of Control and existence of terror infrastructure on its soil. According to the report, this demonstrated Pakistan’s “continuing ambivalence” in taking action against terrorist outfits targeting India.

Urging Pakistan to dismantle terror infrastructure, the report said New Delhi had exercised exemplary restraint in the face of gravest provocation. It also flagged concerns over the worsening internal security scenario in Pakistan.

On India’s internal security challenges, it said focus had shifted from the proxy war in Jammu & Kashmir to the Left-wing extremism and insurgency in the Northeast. It said all parameters of the proxy war in Kashmir were at an all-time low and the current situation indicated a shift towards normalcy.

The report also said India would soon be conducting the fourth test of the 3,000 km range Agni III ballistic missile capable of striking targets in China.