India scrambles to buy winter gear from US amid tension with China

India has bought high altitude warfare kits from the US on an urgent basis_ officials with the knowledge of the matter said_ a sign that the South Asian nation is preparing for an extended winter deployment after talks to ease tensions along its border with China stalled. The Indian Army used an agreement which allows the two militaries to take logistical assistance from each other such as buying fuel and spare parts for warships and aircraft_ for the transaction_ the officials said_ asking not to be identified given rules for speaking to the media. The Logistics Exchange Memorandum Agreement signed in August 2016 aims to promote interoperability between the two militaries. The worst standoff between the Asia neighbors in four decades has prompted India and China to move thousands of troops_ tanks and missiles to the disputed Himalayan border_ while fighter jets are on stand-by. The rush to acquire the gear shows the situation will extend into the winter. The troops face off at 15_000 feet_ with temperatures dropping to -30 Celsius (-22 Fahrenheit). Foreign Minister Jaishankar and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi pledged in September to reduce tensions along the 3_488-kilometer (2_167-mile) boundary known as the Line of Actual Control. Military and diplomatic talks on troop disengagement are  a work in progress_ Jaishankar told investors and analysts at the Bloomberg India Economic Summit on Thursday. India until now sourced high-altitude kits for its defense forces mainly from Europe or China. S K Saini_ the second-highest ranking general in the Indian Army_ is on a scheduled visit to the US Army Pacific Command to discuss other emergency purchases and building capabilities.