China stops Indian road construction in IoK

[A1Kaid]

India stops work on road after China objects

Tue Dec 1, 2009 1:42am EST


SRINAGAR, India, Dec 1 (Reuters) - Authorities in Indian Kashmir have stopped work on a mountainous road near the border with China after objections from the Chinese army, an official said, underlining a festering row over the border.

The 8 km (5 miles) road was being built in the remote Demchok area of Buddhist-dominated Ladakh area near the Line of Actual Control (LAC), a military line that divides Indian Kashmir and the part held by China.

"The construction work at the road has been stopped by the Chinese army, saying that the area belonged to them, and no road would be constructed," Tsering Dorjay, chief executive councillor of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, told Reuters Television. "The road was well within Indian territory."

Tensions have risen between the two countries in the last few months over reports in the Indian media about border intrusions by the Chinese army. A visit by the Dalai Lama to the disputed Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh, which China considers to be south Tibet, has added to the mistrust between the neighbours.

The Asian giants are also jostling for global resources and influence.

But Beijing said last month that India and Pakistan, who claim Kashmir in full and have fought wars over it, should resolve the dispute between themselves after Kashmir's main separatist alliance said China had a role to play in peace talks.

India rules 45 percent of Kashmir and the bulk of its more than 11 million population, while Pakistan has about 35 percent of the territory. China controls the rest. (Reporting by Sheikh Mushtaq; Editing by Bappa Majumdar and Sanjeev Miglani)

Source: India stops work on road after China objects | Reuters

Submissive India bows down to China.

[A1Kaid]

Complaints by China stop Kashmir road construction

SRINAGAR: Work on a mountainous road in occupied Kashmir near the border with China has been stopped after objections from the Chinese army, an official and a report said on Monday.

‘The road was being built for the locals following their persistent demands,’ said a government official from Leh, the capital of Ladakh where the road was being built.

The official, who asked not to be named, said the work had stopped about three months ago.

‘We had already constructed four kilometres of road when the Chinese came and asked to stop the work,’ the chief minister of the region, Omar Abdullah, was quoted by Indian Express as saying.—AFP

Source: DAWN.COM | World | Complaints by China stop Kashmir road construction

China flexes muscles in Tibet and Ladakh, India remain silent

In a surprising and shocking development, India bowed to Chinese pressure over the construction of a road in a forward area of south-eastern Ladakh. The road was supposed to link to the Demchok village, located 300 kilometers south-east of Leh, but it was stopped after China objected.

The road was being constructed under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme to connect two remote villages in the region. The Centre has not yet responded to the matter, saying it is still being looked into. The 3.8 km stretch was within the Indian territory, and was almost complete, when it was stopped by the Chinese Army.

In another development, it was reported that China is building or repairing 27 airstrips in Tibet, which can be used against India in the event of a war.

According to media reports, China is also moving its intermediate range of missiles, including DF-4, stationed in Delingha closer to these airfields. These missiles can hit targets up to 3,000 km.

Source: Breaking News Online: China flexes muscles in Tibet and Ladakh, India remain silent

[A1Kaid]

Now, PLA decides on road construction in Ladakh

1 Dec 2009, 0214 hrs IST, ET Bureau


NEW DELHI: In a shocking development, the Chinese Army managed to stop construction of a road at Demchok in south-east Leh in
Ladakh.

Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah confirmed that the 8-km stretch, which was being constructed under the NREGS, had been stopped after the Chinese army objected to the road construction in Demchok, which is on the Indian side of the Line of Actual Control.

The work was stopped in the last week of October but the Centre has not even launched an inquiry into the issue till now. The only reaction from the government on Monday evening was that it would inquire into the matter. ``We will inquire into the matter. But, you know where the whole problem arises, in the different perception on the actual border. That is why it is possibly been stopped. We will look into the matter,’’ minister of state for defence Pallam Raju said. Only a few days ago, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had remarked about being confounded by the assertiveness shown by China.

After construction of around 3.8 km of the road, the Chinese Army sought a flag meeting with the Indian Army and raised strong objections to the construction of the road, which was to connect two villages in the last inhabited areas on the Line of Actual Control. Reports from the spot further said construction stopped after the Chinese Army came to the Indian side and stopped the work.

``About a month ago, the village head of Domchu informed me that they were constructing a road upstream of Domchu-nalla, well within our boundary and then the Chinese Army came from the other side and stopped the work,’’ Cherring Dorjee, Chief Executive Councillor of Ladakh Autonomous Council was quoted as saying.

He further said that local residents were upset with the Chinese Army coming into Indian territory. Incidentally, this is the same area where Chinese Army soldiers had entered the Indian territory and painted rocks in Chinese. “It is the same area and the Chinese Army were actually coming to our side in the recent past. They have built a road on their side and we had no objection but this road is well within our boundary,” Mr Dorjee said.

Mr Abdullah revealed that the Centre will take up the issue with the Chinese authorities.

The local population has asked the district administration for resuming work on the road.

The government’s inaction on the matter is confounding especially as India has been quick to take up other issues with China. On the heels of reports of Chinese incursions, India had taken up the matter of China issuing separate visas for Kashmiris. This was followed by India objecting to China helping Pakistan in projects in Pakistan [held] Kashmir.

Source: Now, PLA decides on road construction in Ladakh- Politics/Nation-News-The Economic Times