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Namrata Biji Ahuja
Namrata Biji Ahuja

BORDER DISPUTE

Army chief to visit Sikkim amid India-China border tension

india-china-friendship-reuters Representative image | Reuters

Indian Army Chief Gen Bipin Rawat will visit Sikkim on Thursday amidst continuing tension between the Indian and Chinese forces along the international border in the state. Officials in the government termed the closure of the Nathu La pass for Indian pilgrims travelling to Kailash Mansarovar as a "very serious" matter which would require intervention at the highest level. 

China has gone public asserting that it has shut down the Nathu La pass entry for Indian pilgrims  because of the border standoff. Security sources said that the standoff in Donglang in Sikkim sector has been going on for more than a fortnight.

Senior government sources said that the Prime Ministers Office was closely monitoring the situation. All eyes are on the PMO right now with sources claiming that the next move would be taken in the next few days. Prime Minister Narendra Modi returned after his three nation tour on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the army chief is expected to spend two days in Sikkim taking stock of the situation in the sensitive sector and interact with top army commanders. Army sources, however, insisted that the chief's visit to Sikkim was pre-planned and was essentially to address certain administrative issues.

China's attempt to build up its strength in Donglang, a strategically important tri-junction of India, China and Bhutan has become the point of flare up between the two border guarding forces.

The Indian Army is learnt to be asserting to the Chinese forces that the latter would not be allowed to gain access to an area that holds strategic significance for India given its close proximity to the Chickens Neck, that links the northeastern states to the rest of the country.

While China has gone to the media claiming that Indian border troops had illegally crossed into the Chinese territory at the Sikkim section of the China-India boundary, the Indian government and the army have maintained a stoic silence on the issue so far.

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Topics : #India-China

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