India proposes new border facility as CBM with China

NEW DELHI: India has proposed to set up a new Border Personnel Meeting (BPM) venue along the Uttarakhand-Himachal Pradesh stretch of the Sino-Indian border as part of Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) between the two countries.

The proposal was given to the Chinese side during the 4th round of the Annual Defence Dialogue (ADD) between the two countries earlier this month, sources told PTI here.

So far, the two sides hold meetings at regular intervals at three such facilities in Kibithu in Arunachal Pradesh, Nathu La in Sikkim and Ladakh in Jammu and Kashmir.

The need for such a facility was felt by the Indian side as there was no such venue in the central sector of the 4,057-km long Line of Actual Control (LAC) between the two countries, they said.

The proposal made by the Indian side headed by Defence Secretary Shashikant Sharma is still being considered by the Chinese side, sources said.

The LAC is broadly divided into three sectors which include Ladakh in Western, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh in Central and Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh in Eastern sector.

At the ADD, India and China had agreed to enhance defence exchanges and communications for better understanding and mutual trust.

Both sides had agreed to strictly adhere to provisions of 2005 Protocol for implementation of CBMs on the LAC to maintain peace and tranquility in border areas.

Agreeing to enhance the range and scope of exchanges at various levels, China would be sending a military delegation to New Delhi by the end of this month, which will be reciprocated by India in January 2012.