Border issue with China complex: PM

Prakash Chawla
Cha-Am Hua Hin, Oct 25 (PTI) Describing the boundary
question with China as a "complex issue", Prime Minister of
India Manmohan Singh on Sunday said it cannot be "wished away"
and both sides have an obligation to maintain peace and
tranquility pending a solution.
A day after he met his Chinese counterpart Wen Jiabao
here on the sidelines of the Association of South East Asian
Nations (ASEAN)-India and East Asia Summits and talked about
the border row, Singh said Foreign Ministers of the two
countries would discuss the problem in detail when they meet
in Bangalore on Tuesday.
Addressing a press conference before winding up his
two-day visit here, the Prime Minister said he had discussed
with Wen all issues, including the boundary question, problems
concerning common rivers and matters related to Tibetan
spiritual leader the Dalai Lama.
"All issues were discussed," he said about his meeting
with Wen in the backdrop of war of words over India's north
eastern state of Arunachal Pradesh and some other issues like
the Dalai Lama's proposed visit to the state.
"Boundary problem is a complex issue and cannot be
wished away," Singh said, adding "pending solution of the
boundary question, both countries have an obligation to
maintain peace and tranquility along the borders."
Contrary to the information provided by the Indian side
after the Singh-Wen meeting on Saturday that the Dalai Lama
issue did not figure in the talks, the Prime Minister himself
said he had told his Chinese counterpart that the Dalai Lama
is an "honoured guest" of India.
"I explained to Premier Wen that Dalai Lama is our
honoured guest and he is a religious leader," Singh said.
At the same time, he said "we do not allow Tibetan
refugees to indulge in political activities and proof of that
is that we took resolute action against some Tibetans during
Olympics (torch relay) last year following reports that some
Tibetan refugees might create problems."
To a question on the Dalai Lama's proposed visit to
Arunachal next month to which China has objected, Singh said
he was not aware of the Tibetan spiritual leader's plans.
The Prime Minister said he had also raised with Wen
issues related to common rivers, like water-sharing and
reported construction of dam by China on Brahmaputra river.
PTI PC
RAI