The BRICS TimesAddressing a veterans’ gathering, General Chouhan highlighted Uttarakhand’s 350 km border with China and 275 km with Nepal, making it strategically sensitive and security-critical.
Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chouhan said on Saturday that Uttarakhand, being a border state, is strategically sensitive and of high importance. Speaking at a rally for ex-servicemen, he pointed out that Uttarakhand shares a 350 km boundary with China and a 275 km frontier with Nepal, which makes it vulnerable from a security perspective.
He said, “The border of Uttarakhand with China is very peaceful and so sometimes we forget that Uttarakhand is a border state. We must remember that there are certain disagreements with China over the Line of Control (LOC) and the border, and at times these become clear, as in the Barahoti region. Therefore, we all must remain alert and vigilant.”
CDS appealed to people living in border areas to take an active role in security, saying that guarding the boundary is not just the army’s duty, but local vigilance is equally vital. Especially addressing ex-servicemen in border zones, he emphasized that if they remain watchful, the frontiers will become even more robust.
General Chouhan also said that just as cooperative societies supply food to the army in Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, and Ladakh, a similar mechanism will now be established in Uttarakhand.
He added that currently dairy and livestock products are being procured through cooperatives, and in future fresh rations will also be sourced from them. This will not only ensure smooth supply in border areas, but also bring economic benefits to local people.
Akshay Didwaniya
