NEW DELHI, 15 January 2022, (TON): Army Chief General MM Naravane said “the Indian Army stands firm to counter any attempt to unilaterally change the status quo along the country's borders and India's desire for peace is born out of strength and should not be mistaken otherwise.”

The army chief also said that differences in perceptions and disputes are best resolved through established norms based on the principle of equal and mutual security.

The armies of India and China are locked in a military standoff in eastern Ladakh since May 5, 2020, after a violent clash erupted in the Pangong lake area.

Both the countries have conducted 14 rounds of military-level talks to resolve the standoff.

General Naravane said in his speech on the eve of Army Day "we stand firm to counter any attempt to unilaterally change the status quo along our borders. Our response to such attempts has been swift, calibrated and decisive as was seen when the situation so demanded.”

General Naravane said the Army has instituted additional safeguards to prevent any further attempts at military brinkmanship.

He said "we believe that the differences in perceptions and disputes are best resolved through established norms based on the principle of equal and mutual security.”