Lok Sabha Question No. 595 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-07-20
Subject: Border Dispute with Neighbouring Countries
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: GANESH SINGH, ASHWINI KUMAR

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.595 TO BE ANSWRED ON 20.07.2016

## BORDER DISPUTE WITH NEIGHBOURING COUNTRIES

† 595. SHRI GANESH SINGH: SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  border  disputes  between  India,  Nepal,  Pakistan and China have deteriorated during the last two years;
- (b) if so, the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether  infiltration  has  increased  from  across  the  borders, particularly from Pakistan;
- (d) if so, the details thereof;
- (e) whether  any  steps  have  been  taken  or  are  being  taken  to resolve the border dispute with China, Nepal and Pakistan; and
- (f) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS [GEN. (DR) V. K. SINGH (RETD)]

- (a) to (f) Information is annexed.

*****

Nepal:

- (a) & (b) Nearly  98%  of  the  boundary  strip  maps  have  been agreed  to  and  initialled  in  2007,  and  they  will  be  formally  signed when the Government of Nepal is ready.
- (c) & (d) India  and  Nepal  share  an  open  border.  Both  sides cooperate closely to counter cross-border crime, terrorist infiltration, drug trafficking, FICN and smuggling
- (e) & (f) Following the finalization of the boundary strip maps in 2007,  the  bilateral  Boundary  Working  Group  headed  by  the  two Surveyor  Generals,  resumed  its  meetings  in  2014  with  a  view  to repair  and maintain border pillars and provide inputs for any other relevant issues.

Pakistan:

- (a) & (b) Details are tabulated and are at Annexure-I.

During  2014  and  parts  of  2015,  the  International  Border  (IB) between  India  and  Pakistan  and  the  Line  of  Control  (LOC)  saw heightened  ceasefire  and  border/  LOC  violations  from  Pakistan. When Prime Minister met Prime Minister of Pakistan at Ufa, Russia on July 10, 2015, on the sidelines of the SCO Summit, they agreed that  India  and  Pakistan  have  a  collective  responsibility  to  ensure peace and promote development. Director General, Border Security Force met Director General, Pakistan Rangers in September 2015 to discuss the situation on IB. The National Security Advisers of India and  Pakistan,  accompanied  by  the  Foreign  Secretaries,  met  in Bangkok on December 6, 2016 during which discussions were held on  peace  and  security,  terrorism,  Jammu  and  Kashmir,  and  other issues, including tranquility along the LoC.

- (c) & (d) As  a  result  of  these  initiatives  of  Government,  crossborder  and  cross-LOC  ceasefire  violations  on  the  part  of  Pakistan were significantly brought down.

## Border dispute with neighbouring countries

- (e) & (f) A  Comprehensive  Bilateral  Dialogue  was  agreed  with Pakistan  in  December  2015  to  address  all  outstanding  issues through  bilateral  peaceful  discussions.  Foreign  Secretaries  were tasked to finalise its modalities. In the wake of Pathankot air base attack, perpetrated by Pakistani nationals, Government is engaged with  Government  of  Pakistan  to  address  our  core  concern  of terrorism, including the aftermath of the Pathankot attack.

China:

- (a) to (d) There  is  no  delineated  Line  of  Actual  Control  (LAC)  in the  border  areas  between  India  and  China.  From  time  to  time,  on account of differences in the perception of the LAC, situations have arisen  on  the  ground  that  could  have  been  avoided  if  we  had  a common perception of the LAC. Government regularly takes up any transgression along the LAC with the Chinese side through established  mechanisms including border personnel meetings, flag meetings,  meetings  of  Working  Mechanism  for  Consultation  & Coordination on India- China Border Affairs and diplomatic channels. The two sides have reiterated, on many occasions, their commitment  to  maintain  peace  and  tranquility  along  the  Line  of Actual  Control  along  the  India-China  border  areas,  pending  a  final settlement of the Boundary Question.
- (e) & (f) The two sides have agreed to appoint a Special Representative  (SR)  to  explore  the  framework  for  a  boundary settlement  from  the  political  perspective  of  the  overall  bilateral relationship. The 19th round of Special Representatives Talks on the India-China  boundary  question  was  held  in  Beijing  on  April  20-21, 2016.  The  Special  Representatives  of  the  two  countries,  Shri  Ajit Doval, National Security Advisor and Mr Yang Jiechi, State Councilor held  useful  and  positive  discussions  on  the  framework  for  the settlement of the India-China boundary question on the basis of the Agreement  on  the  Political  Parameters  and  Guiding  Principles  for the Settlement of the India-China Boundary Question signed on April 11, 2005.

India  and  China  are  committed  to  resolving  bilateral  issues through dialogue and peaceful negotiations and in a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable manner.

*****

## Pakistan

## Details regarding border crossers (incoming) on Indo-Pak International Border in the past two years and current year are as under:

| State     | 2014             | 2014                | 2014           | 2015             | 2015                | 2015           | 2016 (30.06.2016)   | 2016 (30.06.2016)   | 2016 (30.06.2016)   |
|-----------|------------------|---------------------|----------------|------------------|---------------------|----------------|---------------------|---------------------|---------------------|
| State     | No. of Incidents | Persons Apprehended | Persons Killed | No. of Incidents | Persons Apprehended | Persons Killed | No. of Incidents    | Persons Apprehended | Persons Killed      |
| J&K       | 4                | 4                   | 2              | 7                | 7                   | 1              | 4                   | 4                   | 0                   |
| Punjab    | 23               | 29                  | 14             | 23               | 25                  | 7              | 21                  | 31                  | 10                  |
| Rajasthan | 10               | 13                  | 0              | 12               | 15                  | 0              | 2                   | 2                   | 0                   |
| Gujarat   | 11               | 14                  | 0              | 9                | 17                  | 0              | 4                   | 21                  | 0                   |
| Total     | 48               | 60                  | 16             | 51               | 64                  | 8              | 31                  | 58                  | 10                  |

*****

## Annexure-I