India takes note of Pentagon report, "does not accept" any illegal occupation by China
New Delhi:
Taking cognizance of a Pentagon report that claimed that China has built a large village in a disputed territory in the Arunachal Pradesh sector, India on Nov 11 (Thursday) said it has neither accepted any illegal occupation of its territory by China nor has it accepted unjustified Chinese claims.
"We have taken note of the US Department of Defence’ report to US Congress which also makes a reference to construction activities by the Chinese side along the India-China border areas particularly in the Eastern Sector. Reports had also appeared in the media earlier this year on this issue," MEA spokesman Arindam Bagchi told reporters at the weekly media briefing.
"As we had stated then, China has undertaken construction activities in the past several years along
the border areas including in the areas that it has illegally occupied over the decades. India has neither
accepted such illegal occupation of our territory nor has it accepted the unjustified Chinese claims," he said.
The spokesman said the government has always conveyed its strong protest to such activities
through diplomatic means and "will continue to do so in the future".
"Further, as conveyed earlier the government has also stepped up border infrastructure including
the construction of roads, bridges etc, which has provided much needed connectivity
to the local population along the border," he said.
Mr Bagchi asserted that the government remains committed to the objective of creating infrastructure
along the border areas for the improvement of livelihood of its citizens, including in Arunachal Pradesh.
"The government keeps a constant watch on all developments having a bearing on India's security and
takes all the necessary measures to safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity," he said.
The BJP MP from Arunachal Pradesh, Tapir Gao, had flagged the issue when he said in
the Lok Sabha that the “China had entered more than 60-70 km inside the upper Subansiri district
if you follow the path along the river".
The India-China border issues are well known.
Last month, New Delhi had flayed China for making comments
on "unrelated issues” vis-a-vis visit of Vice President, M Venkaiah Naidu, to
Arunachal Pradesh.
"We have noted the comments made today by the Chinese official spokesperson. We reject such
comments. Arunachal Pradesh is an integral and inalienable part of India. MEA spokesman
Bagchi had said.
"Objecting to the visit of Indian leaders to a state of India does not stand to reason and
understanding of Indian people," he had said.
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India pitches for “unimpeded, unhindered” access to Afghanistan for extending humanitarian support
New Delhi:
India on Thursday, Nov 11, said that for smooth and purposeful humanitarian assistance to crisis-hit Afghanistan, there ought to be "unimpeded and unhindered” access.
It expressed displeasure over China and Pakistan skipping the NSA-level Delhi Dialogue on Afghanistan
in Delhi on Nov 10 only shows "their attitude towards the Afghanistan issue”.
“We had invited China for NSA-level talks, but due to scheduling, they could not come… Rest where they go
and what they do, I don’t want to talk about that. We had invited Pakistan too, but they didn’t come to such
an important meeting. This shows their attitude towards the Afghanistan issue,” MEA spokesman Arindam
Bagchi told reporters at the weekly briefing.
“India's support to the people of Afghanistan is very clear. We have been extending support over
many years to all the people of Afghanistan. The situation on the ground has become very difficult over
the last few months,” he said.
“One of the key elements which we've seen in previous meetings was the need for unimpeded,
unhindered access for humanitarian assistance providers...There have been difficulties due to
lack of unimpeded access,” Mr Bagchi said.
India’s statement on NSA-level Delhi Regional Dialogue comes after China and Pakistan refused to meet for the dialogue presided over by NSA Ajit Doval and which was attended by his counterparts from seven important countries in the region
including Russia and Iran.
Incidentally, Iran had hosted two previous meets in 2018 and 2019.
China had said that it won’t be attending the meeting due to “scheduling reasons”,
while Pakistan declined to attend the same.
Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan participated in the
deliberations and the outcome has been described by New Delhi as something that
"exceeded expectations".
A ‘Troika Plus’ meeting to discuss the Afghanistan issue hosted by Pakistan is being attended by
diplomats from Russia, China and the US.
The MEA spokesman said, India has been participating in meetings over the Afghanistan issue of how to
address impending humanitarian concerns.
"In the NSA meeting, the very serious humanitarian situation in Afghanistan was discussed at
length,” he pointed out.
1,500 pilgrims to visit Pakistan on occasion of Gurupurab
New Delhi:
In view of the significance of Gurupurab and sentiments associated with the occasion, it has been decided that a Jatha of around 1500 pilgrims will visit Pakistan between November 17 and 26, 2021 via the Attar-Wagah Integrated Check Post (ICP)..
"This visit is covered under the 1974 Bilateral Protocol between India and Pakistan on 'Visits to Religious
Shrines'," MEA spokesman Arindam Bagchi told reporters here.
The pilgrims are scheduled to visit Gurudwara Shri Darbar Sahib, Gurudwara Shri Panja Sahib,
Gurudwara Shri Dehra Sahib, Gurudwara Shri Nankana Sahib, Gurudwara Shri Kartarpur
Sahib and Gurudwara Shri Sachha Sauda.
"As you know, movement through the Kartarpur corridor was suspended in March 2020, due to the
COVID 19 pandemic. Land travel between India and Pakistan, is since being conducted on a limited
scale through the Attari-Wagah Integrated Check Post in coordination with the Pakistani side,"
he said.
Either side follows its extant rules and health guidelines.
Pakistan had earlier denied permission for visit of Sikh pilgrims from India to Pakistan twice in June
this year - one, on the occasion of Martyrdom Day of Guru Arjan Dev Ji and second, on the
Death Anniversary of Maharaja Ranjit Singh Ji.
"Both of these jathas are also covered under the 1974 Bilateral Protocol," the MEA spokesman
said.
The Kartarpur corridor was opened on Nov 9, 2019.
The Gurupurab is an important festival for the Sikhs.
The Guru Nanak Jayanti or Guru Nanak Dev Ji Gurupurab is the festival where Sikhs celebrate the
birth of their first guru — Guru Nanak.
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