We want friendly neighbours: India

Antony, who was in Kochi to participate in a Coast Guard investiture ceremony, was replying to queries on cross border militancy in Jammu and Kashmir and border disputes with China.

On the border dispute with China, he said serious attempts are going on to sort out the issue. Discussions are on between the Special Representatives of India and China and 11 rounds of talks have been completed.

“If something serious happens there is a mechanism to sort out the problem between the border security forces of the two countries and at diplomatic levels,” he said.

The borders between India and China have not been demarcated officially. “We have our own perception of the border and they have theirs. While we believe that the entire Arunachal Pradesh is ours, China questions the same,” he said.

In Jammu and Kashmir, compared to last year, the violence level had come down by 50 per cent, he said.

The only concern now was of cross border militancy which was continuing even after three years of ceasefire.

“Terrorists and militants are coming from across the border and they are getting support from them,” he said.