Indo-Tibetan Border Police Director General V K Joshi on Tuesday admitted that over 140 incursions have been reported along the Indo-Chinese border stretching from Ladakh to Arunachal Pradesh over the past year. Ladakh has been more prone to such incursions, the ITBP said, adding that there has, however, been no major standoff.The admission comes close on the heels of recent reports—which the Government had firmly denied—about Chinese incursions in Arunachal Pradesh. “Their perception of the Line of Control could be different from ours.that explains these cases,” he said, claiming that none of these instances were alarming. “We have made our views about the border clear in the Joint Working Group,” he said at a media interaction to mark the 46th Raising Day of the force which mans the Chinese border. Joshi sought to play down the incursions, saying the Chinese border was “not a very live border”, unlike Pakistan and Bangladesh.However, what does seem to be cause for concern is that the Chinese have superior communication equipment and infrastructure, including strategic roads. ITBP is hoping things will change for the better on the Indian side once 27 roads are constructed to link the border areas. “These should be ready by 2012,” Joshi said.Communication by personnel at remote border outposts is another worry, with expensive satellite phone calls the only means for them to stay in touch with their family.
