Question : OCCUPATION OF LAND BY NEIGHBOURING COUNTRIES

(a) the names of the neighbouring countries that have occupied the land of our country and the dates since when;

(b) whether Pakistan and China have illegally occupied the territory of our country;

(c) if so, the details thereof;

(d) whether Pakistan has handed over some of the illegally occupied part of the Indian territory to China;

(e) if so, the details thereof;

(f) the total area of the land of the country freed from the clutches of the neighbouring countries so far;

(g) whether the attention of the International organizations has been drawn to this fact; and

(h) if so, the outcome thereof?

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (SHRI E. AHAMED)

Answers from (a) to (h) are given below, country-wise:

Pakistan

(a) to (h) A part of the territory of the state of Jammu & Kashmir is under the illegal and forcible occupation of Pakistan since 1947. Pakistan ceded about 5180 sq. kms. of this territory to China under the Sino - Pakistan Boundary Agreement in 1963. The Government of India on March 2, 1963 formally declared this illegal agreement as invalid and unacceptable. During the Kargil intrusion (1999), the Pakistani Army crossed the Line of Control (LoC) and occupied dominating heights overlooking the Srinagar - Leh Highway. However, Indian Armed Forces secured the retreat of Pakistani Forces. Under the Simla Agreement, both India and Pakistan are committed to addressing the bilateral issues peacefully through bilateral dialogue. There is no scope for any third party role or mediation.

China

(a) to (h) China continues to be in illegal occupation of approximately 38,000 sq. km in the Indian state of Jammu & Kashmir. India and China have expressed commitment to seek a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable solution of the boundary issue through peaceful negotiations in a bilateral framework. The two sides also agreed that pending an ultimate settlement of the boundary question, they would work together to maintain peace and tranquility in the border areas. The Special Representatives representing the two countries have so far held six rounds of talks and signed the Agreement on Political Parameters and Guiding Principles for Settlement of India - China Boundary Question in April 2005 during the visit of the Chinese Premier to India. They are engaged to work out an agreed framework for a boundary settlement, which will provide the basis for the delineation and demarcation of the India - China boundary.

Nepal

(a) to (h) The India-Nepal boundary is based on the Treaty of Sugauli of 1816 between British East India Company and Kingdom of Nepal and subsequent treaties and agreements. There are differences in perception in some segments. India and Nepal have established a Joint Technical Committee, to resolve these differences of perception on the alignment of boundary in various segments. Its last meeting was held in New Delhi in September 2005.