However, the Indian Army officially refused to term the mobilisation as a counter to the Chinese army's exercise.

'Operation Alert is an annual exercise conducted during this time of the year to undertake the maintenance of the forward posts,' another Indian Army official said.

In the past months, there have been several reports of Chinese troops intruding into Indian territory in the Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir creating anxiety about Beijing's aggressive designs.

The Indian government has, however, sought to play down the incursions, saying these are routine incidents that occur due to differences in perception about the Line of Actual Control.