World

Cross-border tension: India accuses China of Ladakh incursion

Army chief plays down the incident calling it 'a difference in perception'.

Express January 11, 2011

India claimed on Monday that armed Chinese soldiers had infiltrated Indian territory and threatened construction workers near a disputed border, in the latest sign of long-standing cross-border friction.

The Chinese incursion took place in the Himalayan region of Kashmir in September or October, the Press Trust of India said without citing a source for the information.

Chinese soldiers threatened an Indian contractor and his workers who were building a bus station near Demchok in the Ladakh region of Indian Kashmir along the Line of Actual Control that divides India and China. Construction work has been halted since then, the report said.

China has made similar incursions previously, the most serious in 1962 when the two sides fought a brief border war. The incident underscores the tensions that exist between the Asian giants stemming from India’s swift economic growth and the increasing challenge it poses to China’s dominance of the region.

On Monday, India’s army chief, General VK Singh, played down the incident saying it may have occurred over “a difference in perception” of where the border lies. Singh said the Line of Actual Control as perceived by India “runs in a particular direction, while the Chinese have a different alignment of the Line.”

“Unfortunately, some people for various local gains have pushed construction activity in that area,” General VK Singh said, dismissing PTI reports that the building was a transport shelter officially sanctioned by India.

India’s external affairs ministry in a statement later said the media reports were baseless and did not conform to fact. “They are, therefore, not a cause for concern. It will be recollected that there are differences in perception, between India and China, on the Line of Actual Control in this area,” the statement said.

New Delhi says China is illegally occupying 38,000 square kilometres of its northwestern territory, while Beijing claims a 90,000 square-kilometre chunk in northeastern India. The countries have conducted 14 rounds of talks to resolve their decades-long border dispute.

Despite the tensions, trade between the two sides, estimated at about $60 billion in 2010, has been booming and is expected to reach $100 billion in the next three years. With input from news wires.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 11^th, 2011.

COMMENTS (8)

Ashutosh | 13 years ago | Reply @Waqas It is difficult to understand what you say or mean. Pakistan is call the "Global Migraine". India is probably not associated with any aliment. We see the world lineup at our door steps for strategic tie-up, friendship, trade and investment. You should review your post with an open mind.

Ashutosh | 13 years ago | Reply @sharjeel+khan The moment normalcy is restored in Afghanistan, the Afghans probably are not going to treat Pakistan as a friendly nation as Pakistan imposed the barbaric Taliban on them so that they can excise total control over Afghanistan. Pakistan through them had committed some of the worst human rights violations all in the name of religion. It is amazing that you still feel that Afghans will consider you as friends. Had this been true, Pakistan would have never targeted the Indian Missions and India backed developmental work in Afghanistan. As far as visa to Afghans are concerned, it seems that Pakistan dose not have any control over its western boarders and probably in no position to impose such restrictions. Where as in friendship treaty with Nepal and Bhutan with India specifically exempt their nationals from the requirement of any travel document including a passport. In case of Iran the trade relation is understandable as the world community is putting all out effort to isolate Iran economically and Iran is into a desperately trying trade wherever possible. Also, Pakistan is a neighbouring country and have big energy needs, probably Iran is the most cost effective supplier for the purpose. Here, you can also look at the Indo-Chinese relationship, wherein despite all the problems, we have trade relationship to the tune of US Dollar 60 billion and is likely to touch a 100 billion within 3 years, this doesnot mean there is no issues between us.

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sharjeel+khan | 13 years ago | Reply @Ashutosh well is that the reason india started an economic blockade of landlocked nepal which eventually ended in 1990????? whatever you said about nepal can also be said about afghanistan. there are huge numbers of afghans in pakistan,,, people visit each others country without visa,,even pakistani currency is used in wide parts of afghanistan. similarly iran pakistan trade and relations are also improving significantly,,,,while no need to talk about china.

Waqas | 13 years ago | Reply @ Ashutosh Pakistan has problem only with India, we dont have any issues with any other neighbor, but you continue living in fools paradise. Until India continues to be the 'bully boy' of Asia, we will be bigger pain in you backside. If u are a country of men, you will rise and meet the challange. But India goes around pointing fingers at Pakistan. U have a big country, have a bigger heart!!

Ashutosh | 13 years ago | Reply @sharjeel+khan Is there any neighbouring country with which PAKISTAN doesn't have problems??????? Mostly we have problem with neighbours only. India does not have any problem with Bhutan and Maldives. Over 50,000 citizen of Nepal are part of Indian army and the general of Nepali army are teated as general of Indian army and vise-versa (the confidence in each other is very high, though there are India basher in abundance in Nepal). There is no passport or work permit requirement for Nepali or Bhutani for traveling and/ work in India. Sri Lanka and Bangladesh are progressively resolving the serious issues among themselves and the trade with India and investment from India is hugely benefiting both the economies. Within next 5 years, when the neighbours of India sees the benefit or cordial relationship, will surely efficiently resolve all the issues.

G.Khan | 13 years ago | Reply @ sharjeel+khan NONE. Not a single one.

sharjeel+khan | 13 years ago | Reply is there any one neighbouring country with which india doesnt have problems????????

terence mandle | 13 years ago | Reply The facile excuse of "difference in perception of LOAC" has been conveniently propped up by the army and govt alike.Nothing but a charade to mask teh abdication of responsibility and failure of action. The army has failed miserably to safegaurd its own/ the Indian perception of where the line lies, and that is what the general should actually admit and proceed to address suitably on the ground. Ofcourse the military is hardly to be blamed, having to lug their ageing equipment on muleback to the heights of Ladakh and Arunachal, while the Chineese set up railway lines across mountains to reach their troops at the doorsteps of our disputed boundary. Successive goverments have failed and only desparate measures to significantly upgrade infrastructure will allow the army hold its position. ofcourse we do not want to repeat the bungled and ill advised forward line theory of the Nehru era which led the provoked Chineese to unleash their retribution, but lets atleast have the courage to hold on to our current position so that whenever a resolution does finally arrive, our ground position will be adequately demonstrated and shown impregnable to the Chineese, so that their demands do not grow dragonesque like.

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