New Delhi, Nov 29 (IANS) Amidst reports of “incursions” by Chinese troops, Indian Defence Minister A.K. Antony will pay a two-day visit to Sikkim and will also travel to the Line of Actual Control (LAC) at the 14,140 ft high Nathu La pass that lies on the ancient Silk Route between the two countries.`
During the visit Saturday-Sunday, Antony “will be visiting forward areas in the state including Nathu La, where he will be briefed by army commanders”, a defence ministry release Thursday said.
The visit comes even as senior officers of the Indian and Chinese armies meet in Kolkata Friday-Saturday to set the dates for their first war games in China next month.
“The defence minister will also interact with the troops and review the security situation besides meeting state government officials,” the release said.
The Indian Army chief, Gen. Deepak Kapoor and senior defence ministry officials will accompany Antony.
This will be the minister’s first visit to Sikkim, as also his first to the LAC since assuming office in October 2006.
External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee told parliament Thursday there was no commonly delineated LAC between India and China.
“From time to time, on account of differences in perception of the LAC, situations have arisen on the ground that could have been avoided if we had a common perception of the LAC,” he said in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha.
The government “regularly takes up such perceived violations along the LAC with the Chinese side through established mechanisms including the Joint Working Group, the Expert group, border personnel meetings, flag meetings and normal meetings,” Mukherjee added.
Antony had made a similar statement in parliament last week.
The two countries have also evolved a mechanism of talks between their Special Representatives to resolve the contentious border issue.
The 11th such meeting was held in Beijing Sep 24-26 at Beijing between India’s National Security Advisor M.K. Narayanan and Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Dai Bingguo.
They held “useful and positive discussions on the framework” for settling the border dispute, Mukherjee said, adding: “The two sides agreed to continue the discussions at the next round of talks to be held in Beijing.”
Specific dates would be decided through diplomatic channels.
In reply to another question, Mukherjee said: “China illegally claims approximately 90,000 sq km of Indian territory in Arunachal Pradesh and about 2,000 sq km in the middle sector of the India-China boundary.”
This apart, China has occupied approximately 38,000 sq km of Indian territory in Jammu and Kashmir. In addition, “under the so-called China-Pakistan ‘Boundary Agreement’ of 1963, Pakistan illegally ceded 5,180 sq km of Indian territory in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir to China”, the minister said.