No incursion by China, just transgressions: Parrikar

There was no incursion by Chinese troops into Indian territory, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar told the Lok Sabha on Friday.

In a written reply, the minister, however, said transgressions do occur due to difference in perception of the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

"There is no commonly delineated LAC between India and China. There are areas along the border, including areas in Ladakh, where India and China differ on the LAC. As both sides undertake patrols as per their perception of the LAC, transgressions do occur," Parrikar said.

The minister was replying to a question on whether the government had taken note of infiltration from Pakistan and incursions and transgressions by Chinese troops into Indian territory, including Ladakh region, and its construction activities in Pakistani Kashmir.

He said the government regularly took up transgressions along the LAC with the Chinese side through established mechanisms, including flag and border personnel meetings, the bilateral working mechanism for consultation and coordination on the India-China border affairs and diplomatic channels.

Parrikar said that up to March 31 this year, 18 of the 24 attempts made by terrorists to infiltrate into India this year were successful.

In 2015, there were 118 attempts by terrorists to infiltrate into Jammu and Kashmir, 33 of which were successful.

Regarding construction activities in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, including by the Chinese, the defence minister said the Indian government had conveyed its concerns to China and asked them to cease such activities.

"Issues related to abetting infiltration along the India-Pakistan border are taken up with Pakistan military authorities at an appropriate level through the established mechanism of flag meetings and weekly talks between the director generals of military operations of both the countries," Parrikar said.

He said the government was fully seized of the security needs of the country.

"Necessary steps, as required, are taken to ensure that national security concerns are adequately addressed through capability and infrastructural development. This is a continuous process," the minister said.

--IANS

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