Article Posted on : - Jan 14, 2015

A file photo.

NEW DELHI (PTI): Indian Army Chief Dalbir Singh on Tuesday pitched for demarcation of the Line of Actual Control between India and China to prevent "transgressions and face-offs" and for raising capabilities and infrastructure on the Northern Front to meet the "large capability gap".

He said that the raising of the Mountain Strike Corps would significantly enhance India's capabilities on the Northern Front or the borders with China, which he noted, remained "peaceful".

"As far as other borders are concerned, we are following the policy of constructive engagement (where) China is concerned," Singh told reporters during his annual media interaction here.

The Army chief said that the confidence-building measures (CBMs) that are in place with China have been very "effective".

"We are also engaged in army-to-army exchanges which have enhanced mutual understanding over contentious issues," he added.

On issues revolving around the LAC, Singh said that "transgressions" will not occur once the matter of its demarcation is addressed.

"The very fact that the Prime Minister has suggested to China to clarify (on LAC) is a reflection that it is definitely the first step towards the resolution of the border dispute," he said when asked about Prime Minister Narendra Modi's statement on the issue.

During the visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping here last year, Modi said: "A clarification on the LAC is very important. It has been pending for years, it is time to start it again".

Indian and Chinese troops had last year been locked in an over three-week long standoff in eastern Ladakh which had coincided with the Chinese President's visit.

"There is no doubt that unless the LAC gets demarcated, we can't progress... (on) the bigger issue of boundary. Once the LAC is demarcated, we will not have problems of transgressions and face-offs on the boundary," Singh said.

"Today the basic problem in certain areas is that of variation... the perception that LAC varies and because of the perception of LAC varying, we feel LAC is there and they feel it is there," the Army chief said.

That is where the transgression takes place, he said, adding, "Those are the areas which are disputed, which are sensitive. The moment demarcation takes place, all these problems will be resolved".

Meanwhile, he said the raising of the Mountain Strike Corps is progressing as per laid-down timelines and that, "these efforts will significantly raise our capabilities on the Northern Front".

Talking about the infrastructure development, especially along the Northern and North-Eastern borders (with China), he said it "remains a priority to meet the large capability gap".

He added that the Army remains committed about complementing the development initiatives of the government in the North-East through people friendly operations.

"In the North-East, situation is stable in the law and order domain. Also, people-friendly operations are being conducted by the army, basically to complement the development initiatives which are taken up by the government," Singh said.