Arch rivals India and China Wednesday signed a landmark border defence cooperation agreement, which enables two countries to hold joint military exercises and take measures to avoid border clashes.

Beijing, Oct 23/Nationalturk: In an attempt to peacefully resolve all their border issues, arch rivals India and China Wednesday signed a landmark border defence cooperation agreement.

“India and China have signed the border agreement and we hope to maintain peace, tranquillity and stability in border areas,”  Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang said while addressing a press conference after high delegation level talks with his Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh, who is on a two-day visit to China.

Indian PM Manmohan Singh said the two countries have agreed that peace at border is their strategic benchmark. “The relationship pursued by India and China with other countries must not become a source of concern to each other.”

The border pact details measures to ensure “the principle of mutual and equal security”, and reaffirms that “neither side shall use its military capability against the other side and that their respective military strengths shall not be used to attack the other side” and “that neither side shall use or threaten to use force against the other side by any means nor seek unilateral superiority.”

‘Border defence cooperation on basis of bilateral agreements’

An Indian government spokesman giving details of border pact said the two countries shall carry out border defence cooperation on the basis of their respective laws and relevant bilateral agreements.

“Both sides shall exchange information-including information about military exercises, aircrafts, demolition operations and unmarked mines-and take consequent measures conducive to the maintenance of peace, stability and tranquility along the line of actual control in the India-China border areas; jointly combat smuggling of arms, wildlife, wildlife articles and other contrabands,  assist the other side in locating personnel, livestock, means of transport and aerial vehicles that may have crossed or are possibly in the process of crossing the line of actual control in the India-China border areas,” he said.

The spokesman further said both countries will work with each other in combating natural disasters or infectious diseases that may affect or spread to the other side.

‘Border pact to be implemented through agreed mechanism’

The spokesman said Border deference cooperation shall be implemented through agreed mechanism.

“Both countries will hold flag meetings or border personnel meetings at designated places along the LAC in the India-China border areas.  Periodic meetings will be held between officers of the relevant military regions of China and Army Commands of India and between departments responsible for military operations.  Periodic meetings of the representatives of Indian Defence Ministry and China’s Ministry of National Defence will be held,” he said.

He said in order to enhance understanding and cooperation between the border defence forces of the two sides, each side may invite the other side for joint celebrations on major national or military days or festivals and organize cultural activities, non-contact sports events and small scale tactical exercises along the line of actual control in the India-China border areas. “Besides, the two sides may also conduct joint military training exercises, at army level, in each other’s country on a regular basis. The theme of such joint exercises will be decided through mutual consultations.”

‘Indo-China troops shall not follow or tail patrols of other side “The two countries also agreed that they shall not follow or tail patrols of the other side in areas where there is no common understanding of the line of actual control in the India-China border areas.  In case a doubtful situation arises with reference to any activity by either side in border areas where there is no common understanding of the line of actual control, either side has the right to seek a clarification from the other side. In such cases, the clarification shall be sought and replies to them shall be conveyed through any of the mechanisms established under Article III of this Agreement,” he added.

‘No threat to use of force’

“Both sides reaffirmed that neither side shall use or threaten to use force against the other side by any means nor seek unilateral superiority. Both countries have accepted the principle of mutual and equal security,” the Indian government spokesman said.

He said leadership of two countries acknowledged the need to continue to maintain peace, stability and tranquility along the Line of Actual Control (defacto border between India and China) in the India-China border areas and to continue implementing confidence building measures in the military field along the LAC.

The spokesman said India and China reiterated that neither side shall use its military capability against the other side and that their respective military strengths shall not be used to attack the other side.

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Faiz Ahmad / NationalTurk India News

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