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India will convey concern over China-Pak missile nexus to PLA chief

Tara Shankar Sahay in New Delhi

Indian defence officials will convey to China, New Delhi's concern on the Beijing-Islamabad missile nexus when the chief of People's Liberation Army arrives in the country on April 27, and reiterate that China, as a major world power, has a responsibility of ensuring peace and continued cooperation in the region.

According to senior defence ministry officials in New Delhi, General Fu Quonyou will be told that India has concrete reasons to believe that the Ghauri missile recently test-fired by Islamabad, is chiefly the result of China's missile technology.

The officials said while India will reiterate its determination to ensure peace and stability in the region, they pointed out that it will also underline its determination to take prompt and relevant measures to safeguard its security.

However, India will make an impassioned plea to the Chinese delegation during its four-day visit, that New Delhi and Beijing must use their influence to ensure peace and stability in South Asia, which has apparently been endangered by Pakistan's testing of the Ghauri missile.

Significantly, Beijing has reportedly rejected the American proposal to join the Missile Technology Control Regime in order to prevent the proliferation of missile technology. A leading daily in the US had reported that Beijing had rejected the proposal on the eve of President Bill Clinton's visit to China in June. The report maintained that China wants to be unhindered by any international preventive treaty which may stop it from selling missile technology to Pakistan and Iran.

The Indo-Chinese border issue will figure prominently in the talks between Quonyou and the Indian chief of army, General V P Malik. However, a senior defence ministry official pointed out that the evolving confidence building measures by both New Delhi and Beijing would sort out the vexed question.

It was also stressed that India will furnish concrete proof about incursions by army personnel into Indian territory, particularly Arunachal Pradesh.

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