Indian and Chinese Officials to hold meeting at Nathu-la Sikkim

Gangtok , Sikkim : Indian and Chinese Army officers are planning to hold a flag meeting on the Line of Actual Control at Nathu-la in Sikkim later this month to discuss confidence building measures.

However, it is not yet clear whether the two sides would discuss or not about the China’s demand for closure of two bunkers on the Indian side of the border at the tri-junction of Sikkim, West Bengal and Bhutan near Batungla pass.

“These bunkers are not new. They have been in existence for a while. So, if there is any other new demand on these bunkers, the issue will be handled at the diplomatic level,” said an Indian Army official.

“It is certainly not in response to this demand if at all it has been made,” the official, added.
Indian and Chinese Army officials regularly hold meetings under the September 1993 agreement on maintaining peace and tranquility along the LAC, the November 1996 agreement on CBMs in the military field along the LAC and April 2005 protocol between the two governments on the modalities for implementing CBMs along the LAC.

Earlier, the international border meeting between India and China at Nathula was held on 17 May this year.

While Brigadier Mr SL Narsimhan led the Indian Army delegation, the People’s Liberation Of Army delegation from China was led by Senior Colonel Mr Shi Hui Yang, officials, said.

Source: The Statesman