Post

Ta Mei Wan Pao
^{版文英报晩美大}

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MURGO, TUES. 12 Pages

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PDF repositions, attack on Leh imminent

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^{Sasoma-Saser La Road termed the new "Highway of Death".}

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^{Two pincers ready to strike regional capital.}

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The PDF has broken through an IPA stranglehold on the road between Sasoma and Saser La after a gruelling four days counter-insurgency campaign, sending pro-Patel forces into retreat.

However, in Ladakh, two wars are being waged in parallel: the real one and the virtual one. The victory in Sasoma, while a large morale boost to expeditionary forces, shows one thing: that Jiangning should not discount the possibility that this intervention become a static war of attrition.

What was supposed to be a lightning campaign which would see the PDF quickly punch through Kashmir and liberate Himachal Pradesh has shuddered to a halt, crippled at the Sasoma-Saser La Road by unprecedented resistance. This road is one of the two reliable roadways across the Saser Muztagh which link the PDF's forward operating base at Daulat Beg Oldi (DBO) to the Nubra Valley, where resistance has largely been flattened and PDF troops are preparing a final advance on Leh with the 3rd Combined Army of The united indian front. Its vital importance as a transit and supply link has made it the perfect target for good reason.

IPA forces have in recent days launched counter-attacks, sometimes with spectacular results, using the road as a focal point for their attacks. Three days ago, a supply convoy traversing the road was struck with rocket-propelled grenades from fighters hiding on the rugged mountainsides. Two days ago, a trio of ZTQ-15 light tanks were damaged by improvised rockets, causing them to turn back and delaying an assault on a IPA-held settlement for hours. The PDFAF resorted to airlifting and airdropping supplies near controlled settlements such as Diskit and Khalsar, while ground troops cordoned off the Road to pick off cells of resistance one by one.

The lengthy fight at the Road has led it to be named the "New Highway of Death", as it remains the PDF's most costliest operation in Ladakh to this date. 121 personnel were killed at the Road.

However, the Road's capture is not without a silver lining. With IPA forces neutralized in the area, the stream of reinforcements and supplies to Ladakh has doubled. The PDF has doubled its manpower pool from 20,000 to 40,000.

PDF forces now control all territory north of the Nubra river, Shyok river, and the Pangong Tso. It has set plans to capture a roughly 2,200 km² triangular sector of land sandwiched between the two rivers, thus closing the distance to Leh. Drones have already scouted the settlements of Turtuk, Bogdang, Hundar, and Skuru, and the PDFGF has reportedly begun its takeover of the area since last night. Upon seizing the triangle, PDF movements will be even smoother as it will be able to utilize the river to ferry troops and supplies across the vast battlefield.

The critical points of Durbuk, Sakti, and Khardung have also been seized following repeated engagements with the IPA this morning, which killed 2 and wounded 22. The fights were token and quick, with the likelihood of victory drastically skewed towards the FEUSSR thanks to the availability of close air support, the presence of air surveillance materiel at the Siachen Glacier, and local collaborators.

The prospect of a long, drawn-out conflict has forced top military leaders to reassess how they may approach high-altitude guerrilla warfare over the longer term and how they might respond if Free india- tries to regain the initiative in Ladakh. This culminated in a three day-long closed conference at the Whampoa Military Academy in Wuyangcheng, in which over a hundred specialists, including doctors and psychologists, came together to discuss future plans on improving combat efficiency.

The campaign to Leh is expected to take place along two pincers: one from Sakti and Durbuk to Hemis, and one from Khardung straight towards Leh. The Sakti approach is poised to cut off a potential southern path of retreat for the IPA. The northern path of retreat to Kargil and Sringar is likely to be risky as well, following the deployment of Weishi (WS) multiple launch rocket systems. The WS systems, which have a range of over 180 kilometers, allow the PDF to direct attacks from safe areas at the chokepoints of Khalsi, Nyemo, and Alchi.

Already we are seeing signs of faltering at Leh. Guided rocket attacks from advance forces have prompted thousands to flee south. Unverified reports of desertion have also spread among social media. However, with Leh being the city it is, there are some who think the challenge is not taking it, but rather clearing it out.