India to focus on positives with China

Akhnoor (J and K), Nov.14 : Minister of State for Defence M M Pallam Raju has said that New Delhi is taking all measures to safeguard its border with Beijing, but will focus on positives.

Tibet's exiled spiritual leader Dalai Lama's visit that concluded on Thursday (November 12) to Arunachal Pradesh, also claimed by China, has renewed tensions between the Asian giants.

The visit, as well as reports of border incursions in recent months, has triggered tensions between the world's two most populous nations, whose relations remain hostage to mutual suspicion lingering from a brief 1962 border war.

India and China have made little progress in resolving their decades-old dispute over the Himalayan border, despite several rounds of talks.

"See, we are taking, you know proper measures to safeguard our area and you know we have strengthened the airbase in Tezpur, we have strengthened the landing grounds, advance landing grounds on the border with China. We are strengthening our surveillance and you, so as a part of that measure we are taking our safeguard but at the moment our trade with China is so good and like our Prime Minister in his recent meeting with the Premiere of China, we are focussing on the positives. There's so much positive activity happening between both the countries. We will focus on the positives, we will work on the differences through dialogue but that does not mean we will not take adequate measures," Raju told reporters on the sidelines of inaugurating a bridge at Akhnoor sector in Jammu region of Indian Kashmir.

China lays claim to 90,000 sq km of land on the eastern sector of the border. India disputes that and instead says China occupies 38,000 sq km (15,000 sq miles) of territory in Aksai Chin plateau in the western Himalayas.

The neighbours which compete for global resources and influence, have also exchanged diplomatic barbs at multi-lateral forums and sparred over visa policies for their citizens in an escalating row that many fear could spiral out of control.

This despite relations thawing in recent years on the back of mutual trade expected to exceed 60 billion dollars next year, a 30-fold increase since 2000.

Raju added that Islamabad, which has been aiding anti-India terror, has been victim of same.

"We are aware of all what our neighbour is doing for aiding infiltration and we hope that they will mend their ways because whatever problem exists, whatever force of terrorism exists, it's also affecting Pakistan equally and we have seen the blasts that have been happening," he said.

Indian troops shot dead four separatist guerrillas as they tried to cross into Indian Kashmir from the Pakistani side earlier this month.

It said Pakistan-based militant groups have stepped up efforts to infiltrate into the region across the rugged Line of Control (LoC) before winter snow blocks the Himalayan mountain passes.

Pakistan, which like India claims the region in full, has consistently denied its involvement in abetting the anti-India insurgency that has killed more than 47,000 people since 1989.

--ANI