Army chief General M.M. Naravane on Friday said India was committed to resolving the border standoff with China through military and political efforts but “no one should commit the mistake of testing our patience”.

In his address at the Army Day parade, he said: “India had given a fitting response to the conspiracy of attempting to unilaterally change the status quo along the Line of Actual Control where the armies of the two countries have been locked in an impasse since May last year. We are committed to resolve the disputes through talks and political efforts but no one should commit the mistake of testing our patience. I want to assure the country that the sacrifice of the Galwan braves will not go in vain. The Indian Army will not allow any harm to the country’s sovereignty and security.”

Twenty Indian soldiers and an unspecified number of Chinese troopers were killed in a violent face-off with the Chinese on June 15 at Galwan Valley in Ladakh.

General Naravane said the morale of the Indian troops deployed along the LAC in eastern Ladakh was higher than the mountains they were defending.

On the situation along the Line of Control (LoC) with Pakistan, General Naravane said close to 300 to 400 terrorists were present in camps in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and were planning to infiltrate into India.

Earlier this week, the army chief had said India was prepared to hold its ground in eastern Ladakh for “as long as it takes” to achieve the national objectives and his force was alert and ready for any eventuality, but at the same time expressed hope for an amicable solution to the border standoff through the ongoing military talks with China.

He had also said that both Pakistan and China posed a “potent threat” to national security and their collusive approach towards India could not be wished away.