China's objection to Ladakh road due to differing perception: India

NEW DELHI: Seeking to downplay the recent Chinese objection to a road construction in Ladakh's Demchok area near the LAC, India on Saturday said it was an outcome of the "differing perceptions" of the Line of Actual Control between the two countries and has already been taken up with the Chinese side.

It also hoped that both the sides will also be able to resolve all issues pertaining to border dispute peacefully.

"It has been taken up with the Chinese side during one of the flag-meetings that we have at the ground level. Let me say, that the whole issue of the differing perceptions of LAC in the area around Demchok has been taken up at many occasions with the Chinese side," foreign secretary Nirupama Rao said when asked about the recent Chinese objection.

The authorities in Jammu and Kashmir recently said that they have stopped construction of an 8 km road in the remote Demchok area of Buddhist-dominated Ladakh near the LAC after objections from the Chinese army.

She said, "this is not a new issue that has cropped up in the discourse relating to the boundary discussions between India and China".

Rao said both India and China are aware that there are different perceptions of LAC and were working through proper mechanism to resolve all such disputes.

Asked about the recent media reports that ULFA leader Prakash Barua was in China and if India has made any request for his extradition, Rao said "Barua is wanted in India for crime against State..."

"And we continue to seek his extradition and we are in touch with our neighbours about these matters. And we expect all our neighbours to behave responsibly on these issues."