Question : INFRASTRUCTURE BUILDING ON BORDER

(a) whether the Government has taken cognizance of the Chinese intrusions/encroachment in the border areas including Ladakh and massive military infrastructure building by China in the border areas including Tibet and Pakistan occupied Kashmir;

(b) if so, the details thereof ;

(c) the construction of roads and rail network/bridges/upgradation of roads and other military infrastructure undertaken/proposed by the Government on the border with Pakistan and China including the North-East region in response thereto and defence allocations sanctioned and utilized on border infrastructure;

(d) the details of the proposal, if any, to recruit the youths of the hilly States including Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir and create a special force; and

(e) the details of action plan to secure the Indian borders in view of the emerging security scenario and the time by which the Government will achieve the defence preparedness to match the capabilities of the neighbouring countries?

MINISTER OF DEFENCE (SHRI A.K. ANTONY)

(a) & (b): China disputes the international Boundary between India and China. There is no commonly delineated ‘Line of Actual Control (LAC) between the two countries. Both sides patrol up to their respective perceptions of LAC. 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.

Incidents of transgressions are taken up with the Chinese side through established mechanisms such as Hot Lines, Flag Meetings, Border Personnel Meetings and normal diplomatic channels. These mechanisms facilitate maintenance of peace.

Government is aware of the infrastructure development in Tibet by China and their undertaking infrastructure projects in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK).

(c) to (e): Government is fully seized of the security imperatives of the country and reviews the threat perception from time to time as well as the need for developing requisite infrastructure in the border areas. Necessary steps, as required, have been initiated for ensuring that national security concerns are adequately addressed through development of infrastructure, including rail, roads and forward air fields, as well as operational capabilities of the Armed forces to secure the desired national security objectives.

Accretion of forces is a continuous process based on the security threat perception and in pursuance of these locals of the hill States are also recruited as and when the raising of the forces are undertaken.