A Kargil-type attack by China is out of question: India

Summarily ruling out the possibility of China engineering a 'Kargil-type' misadventure along the Indian border, government sources in New Delhi said on Wednesday that Chinese incursions into Indian territory have progressively decreased over the last five years.

"The Army says it (Kargil-type attack by China) is out of the question and that it can handle it," a top government source said.

"Why would they make trouble? What will they gain that substantially outweighs the losses they could incur? The capabilities of India and China have vastly increased over time and no one is crazy enough to spark off a confrontation," he said.

He was speaking in the backdrop of a report by strategic affairs think-tank Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses which suggested that it is conceivable that China could do a Kargil on India 'to teach India a lesson' and that it could be a 'limited war'.

The report -- titled 'A Consideration of Sino Indian Conflict' -- projected conflict scenarios between India and China.

While admitting that India did have big issues with China such as the boundary issue, et cetera, the fears of a full-fledged conflict were unfounded.

"That is actually our most peaceful border. Since October 10, 1975, no one has died on the border, not a single shot has been fired in anger. . . so we can't say there is tension along the Sino-Indian border," the source said.

On the decreasing Chinese incursions into the Indian territory, the source said that there is a pattern to what happens. Both sides have different perceptions of where the line is, thus once a year both go to the area, paint a rock, so to speak, and show their presence.

Direct discussions with the Chinese have been on-going and a process to find a peaceful solution to the vexed issues too is on.

Touching upon the issue of 'stapled visas', the source said that it was quite like 'painting a rock' for it offended one's pride more than anything else, but "now we have found a solution and regular visas are being issued".

Coming back to the border issue, which is the biggest issue that India and China have with each other, he said that it is a long-term matter but the situation has been handled well. "The issue hasn't been settled, but is being managed well," he said.

In the recent past China has 'warned' New Delhi over energy-hungry India's oil-exploration bids along the Vietnamese coast and into the South China Sea claiming sovereignty on the waters.

Dismissing China's 'threat' over the issue, the government source said, "We have been doing this since 1988 and will continue to do it. High seas should be open for navigation and as for commercial explorations there is an international law and an international commission which will decide what is to be done."