India’s air force chief, Air Chief Marshal A P Singh, made the first landing of a military transport aircraft at a new airbase near the disputed Himalayan border with China, a defence official said on Thursday. The C-130J aircraft touched down on Wednesday at the Mudh-Nyoma air force station in Ladakh, located about 13,000 feet (4,000m) above sea level.
The new airbase, the region’s third key station, is only 30 km (19 miles) from the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China. Retired Air Marshal Sanjeev Kapoor tweeted that the airfield, capable of fighter operations, will pose a “new challenge” for both China and Pakistan. He noted that China has an airfield at a similar height.
The move comes as ties between India and China have eased slightly after a major agreement in October last year to reduce military tensions along the border, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to China earlier this year.
However, mistrust remains. Indian analysts and officials say the border still sees a heavy troop presence and infrastructure build-up by both sides. India and China share a poorly marked 3,800 km (2,400 miles) border, which has been disputed since the 1950s and led to a short but intense war in 1962.
Also Read, US imposes sanctions on 32 entities, including India
The United States (US) has announced new sanctions targeting 32 individuals and entities accused of supporting Iran’s missile and drone development programs.
According to the US Department of the Treasury, those sanctioned are based in Iran, the United Arab Emirates, China, Turkey, Hong Kong, India, Germany, and Ukraine. These individuals and organizations are allegedly part of procurement networks that assist Iran’s missile and drone programs.
The Treasury Department stated that the sanctions are intended to curb Iran’s nuclear, ballistic missile, and conventional weapons programs, as well as its destabilizing activities across the region.
The department further claimed that these networks pose threats to US and allied forces in the Middle East and to commercial operations in the Mediterranean. It added that Washington, in coordination with its allies, will continue to take measures to counter the global impact of Iran’s missile and drone development.
