GUWAHATI, Aug 27 - After facing strong resistance from India in the Doka La area, China may try to create trouble elsewhere in the country. The states of the North East must remain careful as the possibility of the neighbouring country encouraging the militant groups of the region to become more active cannot be ruled out, warned noted security analyst and former GOC of the 4 Corps of the Army, Lt Gen (Retd) DB Shekhatkar.
Talking to The Assam Tribune, Lt Gen Shekhatkar, who also headed a committee formed by the Government to suggest measures to enhance the combat potential of the armed forces and to rebalance the defence expenditure, said that China did not expect such a strong stand on the part of India in Doka La area. Now China may try to create problems elsewhere in the country and the international border in Arunachal Pradesh can be the next target. He said that the forces deployed along the international border in
Arunachal Pradesh should remain vigilant to thwart any move by the Chinese to create trouble.
At the same time, Lt Gen Shekhatkar said that all the states of the region should remain vigilant as the possibility of China encouraging the militants to become more active cannot be ruled out. �China never expected such a strong stand from India in Doka La and now the Chinese would be desperate to create trouble for India,� he warned.
Lt Gen Shekhatkar pointed out that for years, the militant groups of North East region are getting direct or indirect support from the Chinese agencies and it is a known fact that such agencies have been putting pressure on the militant groups of the region to come into a common platform. Moreover, it is an established fact that senior leaders of the militant groups of the region are using Yunan province of China as a safe sanctuary for years and this could not have been possible without direct or indirect help from different Chinese agencies. Under the circumstances, facing stiff resistance from India in Doka La, the Chinese may try to use the militant groups of the region to create disturbance in the North East part of India, he said.
With both China and Pakistan having a common interest of creating disturbance in India, the possibility of China asking Pakistan to push in ultras to India also cannot be ruled out. Though it will be difficult for Pakistan to directly send members of the ultra groups having bases in that country to the North East, it is very much possible that such outfits may try to use the illegal migrants staying in Assam and other parts of the region to create disturbance, Lt Gen Shekhatkar warned.
The security analyst also justified India�s stand in Doka La and expressed the view that China should not be allowed to bulldoze smaller countries like Bhutan. Moreover, control over the Doka La area would have given China access to the small corridor connecting the North East with the rest of the country. He also expressed the view that China has not gained anything from the Doka La face off and the world opinion is also against China. No nation in South East Asia will now trust China, he added.