COL. VINAYAK BHAT (RETD)
New visuals demo PLA deployment is roughly end year’s face-off dot together with hasn’t thinned downwards every bit Indian Army main Gen. Rawat claimed end week.
New Delhi: Almost 5 months after Republic of Republic of India together with Cathay agreed to terminate their tense armed forces face-off inward the Himalayan portion of Doklam, Beijing has near completely taken command of the northern side of the disputed plateau, latest satellite images accessed past times ThePrint show.
The novel images demo concrete posts, vii helipads, novel trenches together with several dozen armoured vehicles roughly the dot where the Indian Army together with the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) troops were locked inward a 72-day confrontation end year.
The regain comes days after Army main General Bipin Rawat said that Cathay continues to receive got troops inward North Doklam but likewise added that the deployment had thinned downwards recently.
However, novel satellite imagery accessed past times ThePrint from 10 Dec 2017 shows that the Chinese side is at ane time good entrenched inward the area, amongst heavy route edifice mechanism however introduce roughly the stand-off point.
The face-off was triggered end June after Indian troops prevented Chinese workers backed past times the PLA from completing a route that would receive got given them fast access to the due south Doklam area. The Doklam plateau is contested betwixt Cathay together with Bhutan, amongst Republic of Republic of India likewise having a strategic involvement inward keeping the expanse demilitarised.
These are outset images that demo the extent of the Chinese deployment at Doklam – together with signal a probable permanent PLA deployment, retaining the capability to build the contested route at curt notice.
Troop strength
The PLA has occupied near every nook together with corner, if non every inch, of the northern side of the plateau. Google basis imagery clearly shows a large position out of troops together with equipment inward semi-permanent structures nether camouflage.
There is at to the lowest degree ane consummate mechanised regiment of maybe ZBL-09 IFVs or infantry fighting vehicles. There is likewise a potent possibility of some other mechanised regiment nether camouflage
nets.
Vinayak Bhat/ThePrint
nets.
Vinayak Bhat/ThePrint Two major parking areas receive got been observed for tank transporters of smaller size, suggesting their piece of occupation for mechanised vehicle transport. There are, inward total, 2 regiments’ worth of tank transporters on the Doklam plateau.
There are to a greater extent than than a hundred large troop/equipment-carrying vehicles, or what the armed forces calls ‘B-vehicles’.
At to the lowest degree 4 large bulldozers together with 4 tippers receive got likewise been observed. This indicates a clear intention of pursuing the construction of the route beyond the contested point.
A large position out of troops look to receive got been kept inward tents nether rattling practiced camouflage, but for certain non practiced plenty for satellite imagery non to location them.
The observation tower
There is a rattling tall observation tower, at to the lowest degree 2 storeys high, constructed amongst cement concrete less than 10 metres from the most frontward trench occupied past times the Indian Army.Vinayak Bhat/ThePrint
Vinayak Bhat/ThePrint The elevation profile of this tower suggests that it tin forcefulness out regain the entire Gnathang Valley from Kupup to Zuluk. The entire stimulate of the Indian Army beyond Kupup tin forcefulness out likewise last rattling clearly observed past times the PLA.
New posts
A large position out of fighting posts receive got been created on near every hillock on North Doklam plateau. These posts consist of double-layered communication trenches prepared for all circular defence.
Numerous areas receive got been dug out, maybe to adjust troops nether camouflage at a afterwards date. One of the dug-out areas is quite large, suggesting that the PLA volition build an extremely tall observation tower rattling soon.
Helipads
At to the lowest degree vii novel helipads receive got been constructed amongst permanent cemented circular bases. The diameter of the helipads is 25 metres, suggesting that the largest helicopters inward the PLA inventory volition last able to province here.Vinayak Bhat/ThePrint
Vinayak Bhat/ThePrint Road construction
New roads receive got been constructed to encompass the North Doklam plateau. Work is inward progress to widen existing roads. Most of the roads receive got communication trenches running along them.
Colonel Vinayak Bhat (retd) is a Military Intelligence veteran of the Indian Army amongst vast sense of satellite imagery analysis. He has worked every bit a Chinese interpreter together with is a specialist on PLA together with Pakistan’s armed forces. He tweets @rajfortyseven
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