Report: India suspends defence exchanges after China snubs general

Aug 27, 2010, 7:36 GMT

New Delhi - India has put defence exchanges with China on hold after Beijing turned down a senior Indian general's proposed visit, a news report said Friday.

The general is the military commander for Jammu and Kashmir, considered a disputed region by China.

India had nominated Lieutenant General BS Jaswal, who heads India's Northern Army Command, as its representative for a regular high-level exchange visit to China in August, the Times of India newspaper reported.

But China said it was unwilling to welcome Jaswal because he controlled a disputed area, the report said citing Ministry of External Affairs sources.

Pakistan and India both claim Kashmir and have fought two wars over it since achieving independence from Britain in 1947. Pakistan is an ally of China.

India responded with a strongly-worded diplomatic protest, the report said.

New Delhi also refused permission to two Chinese officials to visit India for a course at the National Defence College, and cancelled a scheduled visit by military officials to China, the report added.

'While we value our exchanges with China, there must be sensitivity to each others' concerns. Our dialogue with China on these issues is ongoing,' Ministry of External Affairs spokesman Vishnu Prakash said in a release.

Defence ties with China were suspended, not cancelled, a source in India's Defence Ministry said. 'A response is now being awaited from Beijing,' he added.

Prakash said India's multifaceted relations with China remained important. 'Our interaction has been growing in a number of areas, including defence. In recent years, we have had useful defence exchanges at various levels,' he added.