By IANS,
Jammu: Denying there was Chinese pressure on developmental activities along the border in Jammu and Kashmir, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said that development activities cannot be held hostage to the diplomatic issues between New Delhi and Beijing.
Replying to a question asked in the backdrop of media reports that China had objected to development projects along the Line of Actual Control in the Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir, the chief minister said Friday: “There is no Chinese pressure.”
Putting the matter in a historical perspective, Abdullah said, “Historically, there have been issues and we have not been able to demarcate the border.”
The 646-km line of Actual Control at many places in Ladakh region is not clearly demarcated. There were several instances of intrusion by Chinese troops, which has been termed as transgression by the Indian Army. Chinese troops also had objected to the construction activities along the LAC.
The chief minister hoped that in the “continuous process, this issue would be resolved diplomatically by the two countries and the development process will not become hostage to the diplomatic process”.
Discounting media perception that terrorist activities had gone up in the Valley, the chief minister said that the “fact that needed to be appreciated is that the security forces have been able to foil the designs of militants.”
He also asked: “Please tell me when the militants have not tried to disturb the situation.”