No belief that China will attack India: PM

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today refuted views that China is planning to attack India and maintained that the policy of both the countries is to engage in dialogue on the border issues though there has not been much progress in recent times.

Singh assured the Lok Sabha during Question Hour that India's borders with China "by and large remain peaceful".

"Our government does not share the view that China plans to attack India," Singh said.

The Prime Minister's response came after Samajwadi Party Chief Mulayam Singh Yadav claimed in the House that he has information that China has made preparations to attack India and has marked out areas near the borders for this purpose. He said the attacks were imminent.

Yadav maintained that the neighbouring country has also stopped flow of Brahmaputra river water to India.

The Prime Minister, however, maintained that he had assurance from the highest quarters that China has not stopped flow of Brahmaputra waters to India.

Singh accepted that there were intrusions from China into areas which India considers to be a part of its territory. However, China differs from India's claim on this issue.

"These matters are sorted out by the area commanders of the two countries," Singh said.

The Prime Minister stated that India has followed the policy of engaging in dialogue and good relations with China and underlined that the erstwhile NDA government had also continued with this policy.

India and China have been engaged in dialogue through its representatives on the border issue.

Singh said both countries had made some progress in talks in 2005 and thereafter, but in recent times not much has been made.