New pact with China bars tailing of border patrols Sunday, October 20, 2013 By : TNN No tailing of each others patrols, a hotline between top generals and additional border personnel meeting (BPM) points along the LAC are some of the new CBMs outlined in the Border Defence Cooperation Agreement (BDCA) to be inked with China next week. No tailing of each others patrols, a hotline between top generals and additional border personnel meeting (BPM) points along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) are some of the new CBMs outlined in the Border Defence Cooperation Agreement (BDCA) to be inked with China next week. Finally, cleared by the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) on Thursday after the two countries exchanged two drafts each, the BDCA builds up on earlier agreements like the 2005 joint protocol to chart out measures to defuse face-offs between the rival troops along the unresolved 4,057-km-long LAC. Apart from laying down that soldiers from both sides will exercise self-restraint, not use force and undertake de-escalatory steps if they come face-to-face due to differing perceptions on the alignment of LAC, the no-tailing clause has been clearly spelt out in the new pact. Tailing of one patrol by a rival patrol was regularly taking place, even after they had agreed to disengage, leading to further tensions. The new pact bars this, said a source. Similarly, the BDCA says the two sides will strive to establish additional BPM mechanisms in all the three sectors — western (Ladakh), middle ( Uttarakhand, Himachal) and eastern ( Sikkim, Arunachal) — to add to the existing ones at Chushul, Nathu La and Bum La. While the Kibithu (Arunachal)-Damai has already been agreed to, the others like Lipulekh Pass-Qiang La in the middle sector are being worked upon. The BPM mechanism and flag-meetings should be actively used to resolve transgressions and face-offs, he said. This has become all the more important since the 21-day face-off in April-May after PLA troops intruded 19 km into Depsang valley in DBO sector of eastern Ladakh. India may have recorded well over 600 transgressions by PLA troops in the last three years to strengthen their claims over disputed areas but it was jolted by the unusual, prolonged and deep intrusion in Depsang. There is need for greater predictability and stability in tackling such incidents. China has agreed to a hotline, like the DGMO hotline we have with Pakistan, for regular high-level interactions between the two armies, said the source. The overall aim of the BDCA is to step-up military-to-military interactions to ensure local operational issues are sorted out among the military commanders on the ground without letting them escalate to the political leadership every time. The BDCA does not have the clauses initially proposed by China, in its first draft submitted in March, which would have amounted to both sides freezing existing troop and border infrastructure levels along the LAC. defencenews.in/defence-news-internal.asp?get=new&id=2166
Posted on: Sun, 20 Oct 2013 08:02:06 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015