India, China may consider coordinated patrol at LAC

Ajay Banerjee

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 21

In a bid to have better ‘working’ relations, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will meet her Chinese counterpart Lt Gen Wei Fenghe on Thursday to discuss additional measures to ensure peace along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), the de facto boundary between the two nations.

This may include an out-of-the-box solution like a coordinated troop-patrol along LAC. This means, troops of either side inform each other before patrolling any of the 14 disputed points along the LAC.

Since this will entail a higher political decision, the matter may be discussed. However, a final outcome will have to get a political nod in either country.

Both countries have different perceptions of the LAC and overlapping claims on areas along the 3,488 km-long LAC running all along the east-west alignment of the Himalayas. The Chinese Defence Minister arrived in New Delhi on Tuesday with a 24-member high-level delegation and called on PM Narendra Modi.

A statement by India said: “The PM said maintenance of peace and tranquility in the border areas is indicative of the sensitivity and maturity with which India and China handle their differences, not allowing them to become disputes.”

The PM appreciated the increased momentum of high-level contacts between India and China in all spheres, including in areas of defence and military exchanges. Sources said the two sides are expected to work at having additional border personnel meeting points. At present military commanders of both sides can meet and sort out differences at five designated points. These are at DBO and Spanngur gap in eastern Ladakh; Nathu La in Sikkim; Bumla and Kibithoo in western part of Arunachal Pradesh and eastern part of Arunachal Pradesh, respectively.