The setting up of a joint border management mechanism between India and China has been delayed with no dates having been finalised as yet for the talks between the special representatives (SRs) of the two neighbours.
The talks, it had been expected, would be held towards the end of November. However, ministry of external affairs spokesman, Vishnu Prakash, in response to a question on the dates, said Friday the dates are yet to be finalised. “We are looking forward to the 15th round of SR talks in the near future and the two sides remain in touch to find convenient dates for the meeting,” he said.
The talks are crucial as they are expected to work on the details of setting up the joint mechanism for border management for which the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) has already given its approval.
While the Chinese side was to be represented by special representative Dai Bingguo, the Indian side was to be led by national security adviser Shivshankar Menon.
The 4,057-km Line of Actual Control that India shares with China has remained peaceful over the years, New Delhi has often been irked by Beijing through violations by Chinese troops who have frequently intruded into Indian territory. There have been other issues too regarding the LAC that need to be dealt with. Defence minister A.K. Antony recently hoped the new mechanism with China would resolve many of the contentious border issues.
Apart from officials from the defence and home ministries, the proposed mechanism will also have representatives from the military and the intelligence agencies.
It will be headed by the joint secretary in charge of the MEA’s East Asia division who will remain in real-time contact with the director-general in charge of the recently created department of boundary affairs in the Chinese foreign affairs ministry.
By putting this arrangement in place, the two countries hope to have a direct and quick line of communication between New Delhi and Beijing.