India open to alternative steps to curb incursions, says Rajnath

Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday said India may resort to "alternative steps" if negotiations with neighbours on incursions do not yield fruitful results. Singh, who is on a day's tour to the state to assess flood situation, was asked about incursions by Chinese army in Leh area to which he replied that incursions were happening earlier also. "Our Jawans are guarding our borders and there will be no let up in the vigil. The government wants to resolve all issues with its neighbours through dialogue but alternative steps can be taken if they don't believe in negotiations," Singh said without specifying the neighbouring country.

Jammu and Kashmir has seen incursions from Pakistan as well as China.

When asked whether the centre and the state are on confrontational path following a resolution passed by Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly seeking resumption of dialogue with Pakistan, the Home Minister said there is no confrontation and the centre and state have cordial relations.

Recently, PLA personnel entered Charding Nilu Nullah Junction in Demchok sector on their vehicles claiming it to be Chinese territory, official sources had said.

The PLA soldiers who wanted to have a round of the area were stopped by the Indian army and personnel of Indo Tibetan Border Police, a force which guards the India-China border.

After a 30-minute long stand-off followed by a banner drill where armies of both the countries warned each other against moving a step forward, the PLA personnel returned to their side, the sources said.

Earlier they had entered through Chumar, located 300 km east of Leh, on July 13 only to be confronted by Indian soldiers and after the usual banner drill between the two sides, the PLA patrol went back.

On the western front, Pakistan troops had recently violated the ceasefire by targeting Indian forward posts with small arms and automatic weapons along the LoC.