The Hindu : National : “Incursions, a matter of perception”

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“Incursions, a matter of perception”

General Deepak Kapoor

New Delhi: Noting that there were different perceptions of the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Arunachal Pradesh, Army Chief Gen. Deepak Kapoor has said India would be “as much blameworthy” as the Chinese side for incursions on the two sides.

He, however, said border infrastructure on the Chinese side was better than that in India, giving them an “additional capability to bring additional troops.” The government was “seriously looking” into this “disparity.”

“I think a degree of misperception has been built on this issue of incursions... first and foremost, it is a matter of perception. The Chinese have a different perception of the LAC as do we. When they come up to their perception, we call it an incursion and likewise they do,” Gen. Kapoor said in Karan Thapar’s ‘Devil’s Advocate’ programme for CNN-IBN.

He said the level of total number of incursions in 2007 was “somewhat similar to what it has been in the past. So, the feeling that too many incursions have taken place into Indian territory is not right.”

Asked whether Indian troops also stray into Chinese territory as often, he said: “That’s right... which they would call an incursion into their side. So, therefore, to that extent, we would be as much blameworthy for that kind of incursion due to our perceived LAC.”

Gen. Kapoor dismissed the media perception that the Chinese incursions were a sign of muscle-flexing by Beijing indicating something worse to come. “I do not share that at all... that is why I say at times the press has not been fair in reporting this very accurately,” he said.

On border infrastructure, he said the road and railway development on the Chinese side “gives them an additional capability to bring in additional troops if and when they want to bring in.”

“So, that is an area where we need to be on an equal footing. The fact that our infrastructure is not so well developed is a fact... there is a disparity and we are seriously looking into it and trying to change that.”

Seeking to allay concerns over Chinese troop manoeuvres, he said satellite technology gave India an ability to see across the LAC to keep a watch on movements. “Whilst that [Chinese ability to move troops faster] is a matter of concern, the fact is that if and when they move [troops] there are also today images available through the means of satellite. Whenever any such movement takes place there is an ample opportunity for notice to be able to meet such a challenge if and when it does happen,” he said. — PTI

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