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As India marks five years since the violent Galwan clash of June 15, 2020—an event that fundamentally altered the strategic dynamic along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China—former Northern Army Commander Lt Gen Y K Joshi (Retd) has offered rare insights into the Indian Army’s calibrated yet bold military response, culminating in the audacious Operation Snow Leopard. The operation, he said, turned the tide against the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and reshaped the contours of military engagement in Eastern Ladakh.
In an exclusive discussion led by BharatShakti Editor-in-Chief Nitin Gokhale for the special show- BharatShakti Dialogues, Gen Joshi, who was the Northern Army Commander during the peak of the India-China standoff, described the Galwan incident as a “watershed moment” that exposed the full scale of the Chinese threat—not just militarily, but economically and politically for the first time.
“The moment we saw the PLA’s mobilisation in the depth areas—well beyond what agreements allowed—it was clear this was not routine posturing,” said Gen Joshi. “We realised the Chinese were up to something serious, something different.”
While the Galwan clash on June 15, 2020, shocked the nation with the loss of 20 Indian soldiers, it also galvanized a comprehensive reassessment of China’s intentions. The standoff that began in May 2020 quickly escalated, with multiple rounds of failed military-level flag meetings. The Chinese remained unyielding, particularly in key friction points such as PP-14, PP-15, and the Northern Bank of Pangong Tso.
However, it was the Chinese attempt on the night of 29–30 August 2020 to alter the status quo on the South Bank of Pangong Tso that became the inflexion point.
“That was the trigger,” Gen Joshi explained. “When they moved at night in the South Bank area, we knew we had to act—and act fast. That’s when we launched Operation Snow Leopard.”
What followed was one of the most daring high-altitude military manoeuvres since the 1962 war. Indian troops—supported by armoured units, mechanised forces, and airlifted assets from the Air Force—carried out the pre-emptive and simultaneous occupation of the Kailash Range, including Gurung Hill, Rezang La, and Rechin La. The Indian Army not only beat the PLA to key heights but also gained direct visual dominance over China’s Moldo garrison.
“The Chinese never anticipated that we would mobilise so rapidly and with such scale—mechanised forces, infantry, artillery—across an 800-kilometre frontage. It took meticulous planning and complete secrecy,” Gen Joshi said.
According to him, Indian forces launched multiple quid pro quo (QPQ) operations over the following hours and days, securing heights on both the South and North Bank of Pangong Tso. In the North, Indian troops moved to dominate the Finger 4 ridgeline area, effectively offsetting PLA advantages.
“Some of the PLA troops were caught napping—literally. We had achieved total surprise,” he recalled.
The strategic significance of this occupation cannot be overstated. For the first time in decades, India had established overwhelming tactical leverage in a contested zone. The Chinese were forced to alter their posture at the negotiating table.
“After Snow Leopard, the body language of the PLA negotiators changed completely. They realised India now had leverage. That’s when disengagement really began,” Gen Joshi said.
The disengagement process, which began in earnest in early 2021, led to Chinese pullbacks in several key sectors. While some friction points remain unresolved, analysts widely view the Indian response following the Galwan incident as a turning point in how India handles PLA provocations.
Beyond the military domain, Gen. Joshi believes that Galwan catalysed a national awakening on the China front—impacting foreign policy, trade dependencies, and public perception.
“Until 2020, the full scope of the China threat wasn’t appreciated by the larger political and economic leadership. Galwan changed that forever.”
As India continues to strengthen its posture across the LAC, including through infrastructure upgrades and integrated theatre commands, the lessons of 2020 remain deeply relevant. Operation Snow Leopard, though still partly classified, stands as a textbook case of operational brilliance, strategic risk-taking, and political-military synergy.
“It was the first time since 1962 that such a large mobilisation, including tanks and mechanised forces, was executed in Ladakh. It gave us the upper hand—and it brought China to the table,” Gen Joshi concluded.
As the fifth anniversary of Galwan is observed, the message from India’s military planners is clear: The rules of engagement have changed, and so has the resolve.
Team BharatShakti
