India, China to ink pact to set up DGMO hotline

India and China are close to inking a pact on hotlines at the DGMO-level, increasing the number of border personnel management (BPM) points and boosting the interactions between their armed forces to avoid any untoward incidents at the border or elsewhere.

“I am pleased to note that we have agreed on increased interactions, better management of the border, including the early resolution of the agreement on hotlines, creating additional BPM points which now are already five, and more interactions with each other,” defence minister Manohar Parrikar told reporters, adding, “The number of interactions will increase at various levels, including at the (Army) commander level ... As far as border management is concerned, the reason we want the LAC to be put in place (is that) ... the two countries have different perceptions (of the LAC) in some areas, there is technical transgression by both sides (because of differing perceptions).”

“... The best solution,” he said, “is to identify the line. Once we agree on an accepted perception, then there is no chance of we moving out of it or they coming in. So reduce that chance of error by identifying the LAC. The discussions were frank, free and (took place) in a positive atmosphere. Overall, there appears to be a better chance of getting things managed.”