"Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday chaired an emergency meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) at South Block, New Delhi, as tensions along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the eastern sector reached their highest point in three years."

"The meeting, which lasted over four hours, was attended by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, and the chiefs of the Army, Navy and Air Force. Sources within the government described the atmosphere as 'serious but composed'."

"India's sovereignty is non-negotiable. Our forces are fully prepared and our response will be measured, firm, and decisive."

"The Indian Army has been placed on high alert across three sectors in Arunachal Pradesh and Ladakh following satellite imagery that showed unusual troop movements and infrastructure activity on the other side of the LAC. The developments come weeks after a diplomatic exchange that was described as 'frank and constructive' by both sides."

"Diplomatic Channels Remain Open"

"Despite the military posturing, diplomatic channels between New Delhi and Beijing remain open. The Ministry of External Affairs confirmed that the Indian Ambassador in Beijing had conveyed India's concerns through official channels, and that a response was expected within 48 hours."

"Analysts say the timing of the escalation — coming just weeks before a scheduled bilateral summit — is significant. 'This is pressure diplomacy,' said a former foreign secretary. 'The question is whether New Delhi blinks or holds its ground. History suggests it will hold.'"

"The Opposition has called for an emergency session of Parliament to brief MPs on the situation. The government has not yet responded to that demand, though sources indicate a closed-door briefing for party leaders may be arranged as early as Thursday."

"Forces on High Alert"

"The Indian Army's Eastern Command has moved additional troops and equipment to forward positions in Arunachal Pradesh. The Air Force has placed its Sukhoi-30MKI squadrons at Tezpur and Chabua air bases on standby. The Navy, meanwhile, has increased patrol activity in the Indian Ocean Region as a show of strategic depth."

"Markets reacted nervously to the news, with the Sensex falling 450 points in early trade before recovering. The rupee weakened marginally against the dollar before stabilising. Analysts said the market reaction reflected concern but not panic, with most investors expecting a diplomatic resolution."