angeldemon_007
SENIOR MEMBER
A WIDENING rift between the defence and the external affairs ministries over perceived threats from China is becoming a source of embarrassment for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who is keen on mending fences with the major neighbour.
Over the past few years, the two ministries are at loggerheads on dealing with China. Senior government officials responsible for countrys policies towards China, and senior security officers held opposite views when international attention was focused on India hosting Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai.
Just when some top government officials were making a point that fears from China were unfounded, Army chief General VK Singh raised the issue of 4,000 Chinese troops in ***************** Kashmir (***) at a function. He backed Air Force chief NAK Brownes contention that it warrants Indias attention.
Rubbishing what they called an imaginary threat from China in the media and a section of the establishment, senior government officials urged the media to focus on convergences achieved by the two countries during the past decade.
The relationship with China is sensitive, complex and important. There is a need for extreme restraint and guarding against exaggerated fears, one of them said. Though there is divergence on the issue of borders, the officials said one must accept that not a single shot has been fired over past three decades. Both sides have maintained peace and tranquillity. Crying wolf does not serve our purpose, the source said.
On the Chinese build-up, sources said there is no denying its rising power and developing defence capabilities. But India is doing the same too, they claimed. For the first time, these officials accused an Indian news agency of creating Chinaphobia.
Over the years, a particular agency has been releasing stories with Leh dateline on Sundays that get flashed in newspapers the next day. There is a pattern. It has been marked and sent to higher-ups in the government for further action, they said.
Tehelka - India's Independent Weekly News Magazine
---------- Post added at 05:09 AM ---------- Previous post was at 05:07 AM ----------
Who cares what Babus in Ezternal Affairs think ? I think we should station these rich kids on the border for 2 months then they will reaise whats actually happening. MOD and armed forces should continue to raise this issue as it is the only way to upgrade our armed forces not to mention there's a small chance that these concerns might turn out right.
Over the past few years, the two ministries are at loggerheads on dealing with China. Senior government officials responsible for countrys policies towards China, and senior security officers held opposite views when international attention was focused on India hosting Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai.
Just when some top government officials were making a point that fears from China were unfounded, Army chief General VK Singh raised the issue of 4,000 Chinese troops in ***************** Kashmir (***) at a function. He backed Air Force chief NAK Brownes contention that it warrants Indias attention.
Rubbishing what they called an imaginary threat from China in the media and a section of the establishment, senior government officials urged the media to focus on convergences achieved by the two countries during the past decade.
The relationship with China is sensitive, complex and important. There is a need for extreme restraint and guarding against exaggerated fears, one of them said. Though there is divergence on the issue of borders, the officials said one must accept that not a single shot has been fired over past three decades. Both sides have maintained peace and tranquillity. Crying wolf does not serve our purpose, the source said.
On the Chinese build-up, sources said there is no denying its rising power and developing defence capabilities. But India is doing the same too, they claimed. For the first time, these officials accused an Indian news agency of creating Chinaphobia.
Over the years, a particular agency has been releasing stories with Leh dateline on Sundays that get flashed in newspapers the next day. There is a pattern. It has been marked and sent to higher-ups in the government for further action, they said.
Tehelka - India's Independent Weekly News Magazine
---------- Post added at 05:09 AM ---------- Previous post was at 05:07 AM ----------
Who cares what Babus in Ezternal Affairs think ? I think we should station these rich kids on the border for 2 months then they will reaise whats actually happening. MOD and armed forces should continue to raise this issue as it is the only way to upgrade our armed forces not to mention there's a small chance that these concerns might turn out right.
