Indian PM Says Chinese Incursion, Localized Problem

New Delhi, April 28, IRNA -- Breaking his silence over the Chinese incursion issue, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Saturday sought to play it down as a ˈlocalised problemˈ and expressed confidence that the issue can be resolved. ˈWe do have a plan. We do not want to accentuate the situation. We do believe that it is possible to resolve this problem. It is a localised problem. I think the talks are going on,ˈ he said when asked if the Government had any plans to resolve the issue. The Prime Minister was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the defence investiture ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan (Presidential Palace) here. On April 15, a platoon-strength contingent of Chinaˈs Peopleˈs Liberation Army (PLA) had come inside the Indian territory in Burthe in the DBO sector and established a tented post there. The government had yesterday told a Parliamentary Committee that Chinese troops have pitched tents 19 kms deep inside the Indian territory in Ladakh region. The Army has given its inputs to the Government and the National Security Advisor-headed China Study Group, which is handling the present situation in Ladakh. The Army has also given various options to the Government on the issue including the aggressive use of military to handle the present situation. All the options suggested to the China Study Group are being looked at carefully and other stakeholders in the situation have also given their inputs. The Army had rushed its troops from the 5 Ladakh Scouts battalion to the DBO area and they are camping there. The force is also considering the option of dispatching additional troops if the need arises. Meanwhile, India and China have finalized arrangements to hold joint anti-terrorism exercises later this year even as they are grappling with the issue of intrusion by the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) forces into the Depsang Valley in Ladakh. Separately, officials of the two countries are also poised to hold talks on river waters next week to address New Delhiˈs concerns over Beijingˈs plans to construct new dams on Brahmaputra as well as liberalization of visa regime between the two countries ahead of external affairs minister Salman Khurshid visit Beijing on May 9. This week, a three-member Indian delegation, headed by Brigadier YK Joshi, visited Chengdu, the headquarters of the military brigade that is largely focussed on Tibet and Chinaˈs borders with India, pti reported quoting official sources as said. They discussed preparations for the exercises being resumed after gap of four years, the sources said. The visit of the Indian military delegation assumed significance as the both militaries were at loggerheads over Chinese soldiers pitching tents at Daulat Beg Oldi (DBO) in Ladakh, which India said is an intrusion. It has asked the PLA to restore status quo. On its part, China denied any violation of the line of actual control (LAC) by its troops and the two countries held hectic negotiations to resolve it ahead of Khurshidˈs visit. After initial reactions, India and China played down differences, saying that the efforts were on to sort them out. Khrushid visit will be followed by new Chinese Premier Li Keqiangˈs visit to New Delhi later next month, making it his first stop of his maiden overseas tour. Sources said Brig Joshiˈs delegation, which winded up its visit on Friday, however, focused only on the plans to hold joint exercises as the Ladakh issue is being dealt through border consultation mechanism worked out by the two countries last year. The Indian military delegation discussed the composition of the troops to take part in the exercises, besides the logistics and the format of which will be anti-terrorism. They also made field visits to the areas where the Chinese side plans to conduct the drills. The two sides plans to press in a company of troops take part in the exercises. The schedule of the exercises, which were expected to be held in September or October this year, will be finalized between the two side at a later date./end