The Hindu : National : India, China to resolve bunker issue diplomatically

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Wednesday, Oct 10, 2007
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India, China to resolve bunker issue diplomatically

Sandeep Dikshit

NEW DELHI: India and China have agreed to resolve their stand-off over the presence of two Indian Army bunkers along the Line of Actual Control in the Thagla ridge area of Arunachal Pradesh through diplomatic means, official Indian sources said. Playing down the implications of an alleged intrusion by Chinese troops into Bhutan, whose security is handled by India, they said it appeared to be a ploy to get Bhutan to negotiate a border settlement.

“There probably has been an intrusion in Bhutan and we are still checking it out. As for intrusion in the rest of the border with India [including Sikkim] that is not true. Agreed there are differences of perception of the Line of Actual Control at certain places but we have mechanisms to discuss them. It is very easy to say they have intruded,” said the sources.

Negotiations

“We are talking to both and assessing what is the actual situation [on Bhutan’s border with China]. The Chinese have been known to do it at a certain period of the year. It is probably part of their negotiating strategy,” they added.

Both India and China know the areas where they lay claim for the same place. For a number of years now, the responses of both sides have fallen into a certain pattern. A patrol from one side goes to the disputed area when it is sure the other side is not around and leaves ‘tell tale’ marks such as cigarette packets and eatables. The other side does the same — removes the signs and places their own ‘tell tale’ signs. But there has been no confrontation.

On the issue of Indian bunkers at the Thagla ridge, the sources said a Chinese official had come over and asked the Indian troops to remove them but they refused. A couple of Chinese officials turned up after a few days and said the issue could be discussed diplomatically. “That happened about 45 days ago. Since then we have yet to hear from them. In the first case it was probably a local official who exceeded his authority,” the sources said.

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