India conveys concern to China over POK presence

India today conveyed its concern to China over its “activity and presence” in the Gilgit-Baltistan region of Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK) in the backdrop of reports which claimed that up to 11,000 Chinese troops had moved in the area.

Back from New Delhi where he briefed Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and other members of the Cabinet Committee on security, Indian Ambassador to China, S Jaishankar, met Chinese Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, Zhang Zhijun, to convey these concerns.

During their 90-minute meeting, the Chinese Minister told the Ambassador that Chinese personnel were present in PoK to render “humanitarian assistance” to the flood-affected people in the region, according to sources in the Indian Embassy. The officials said the concerns conveyed by India included “activities and presence” of Chinese in the Gilgit-Baltistan area of PoK, as well as The New York Times report that stated 7,000-11,000 troops to be present in the area, to take firm grip of the region for several Chinese projects, including laying of roads and pipelines.

The two also discussed other issues concerning improvement of bilateral ties, the sources added. Following The New York Times report of the People’s Liberation Army’s presence in PoK, India had said it was independently verifying the matter, which it dubbed as “serious, if true”. “If true, it would be a matter of serious concern, and we would do all that is necessary to ensure safety and security of the nation,” External Affairs Ministry spokesman, Vishnu Prakash, had said on Monday.

The Indian envoy also reportedly conveyed the outrage and anger caused by the Chinese action of denying a visa to Lt General B S Jaswal, Chief in the Indian Army’s Northern Command. The refusal was made on the ground that Jaswal headed the forces of Jammu and Kashmir, which Beijing considers a disputed territory.