India is planning to lay 14 strategic railway lines close to borders with China and Pakistan to facilitate the movement of troops, as part of preparations to meet challenges from those two countries, local media reported Sunday.
The Press Trust of India, citing informed sources, said the 14 railway lines, of which surveys have been completed for 12, are in addition to 73 roads being constructed along the so-called Line of Actual Control with China, the sources told PTI.
The railway lines are planned for the four northern states -- Jammu and Kashmir, which borders both Pakistan and China, Arunachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, which both border China, and Rajasthan, which borders Pakistan.
Defense Minister A. K. Antony conceded in Parliament on Sept. 6 that China "is in a better position than India in terms of border infrastructure" as India was late in deciding on building roads and other capabilities near the border, which he called a "mistake" and a "collective failure" of all the successive governments.
But after "years of neglect," he said, India is fast developing capabilities near the China border, including building of roads, raising of two mountain divisions and setting up many new airfields and landing grounds.
Bilateral ties were strained earlier this year after India accused the Chinese army of intruding into its territory.
China claims some 90,000 square kilometers of territory in Arunachal Pradesh, which Beijing calls Southern Tibet, while India claims about 38,000 square km of China-held territory in Aksai Chin to the west, as well as over 5,000 square km of land in Kashmir that was transferred to China by Pakistan under a 1963 boundary deal.
In 1962, the Chinese and Indian militaries fought a short but bloody war, which was followed by some skirmishes in later years.
Last Wednesday in Beijing, the world's two most populous countries signed a cooperation agreement aimed at avoiding military conflicts along their border.
"I am sure it will help to maintain peace, tranquility and stability in our border areas," Chinese Premier Li Keqiang told reporters in Beijing after the signing of the agreement, which took place after his talks with his Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh.
India to lay 14 strategic railway lines near China, Pakistan: PTI | GlobalPost
The Press Trust of India, citing informed sources, said the 14 railway lines, of which surveys have been completed for 12, are in addition to 73 roads being constructed along the so-called Line of Actual Control with China, the sources told PTI.
The railway lines are planned for the four northern states -- Jammu and Kashmir, which borders both Pakistan and China, Arunachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, which both border China, and Rajasthan, which borders Pakistan.
Defense Minister A. K. Antony conceded in Parliament on Sept. 6 that China "is in a better position than India in terms of border infrastructure" as India was late in deciding on building roads and other capabilities near the border, which he called a "mistake" and a "collective failure" of all the successive governments.
But after "years of neglect," he said, India is fast developing capabilities near the China border, including building of roads, raising of two mountain divisions and setting up many new airfields and landing grounds.
Bilateral ties were strained earlier this year after India accused the Chinese army of intruding into its territory.
China claims some 90,000 square kilometers of territory in Arunachal Pradesh, which Beijing calls Southern Tibet, while India claims about 38,000 square km of China-held territory in Aksai Chin to the west, as well as over 5,000 square km of land in Kashmir that was transferred to China by Pakistan under a 1963 boundary deal.
In 1962, the Chinese and Indian militaries fought a short but bloody war, which was followed by some skirmishes in later years.
Last Wednesday in Beijing, the world's two most populous countries signed a cooperation agreement aimed at avoiding military conflicts along their border.
"I am sure it will help to maintain peace, tranquility and stability in our border areas," Chinese Premier Li Keqiang told reporters in Beijing after the signing of the agreement, which took place after his talks with his Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh.
India to lay 14 strategic railway lines near China, Pakistan: PTI | GlobalPost
