Published by World Tibet Network News - Thursday, February 27, 1997NEW DELHI, Feb 26 (AFP) - India voiced concern Wednesday over an alleged intrusion by Chinese soldiers into its territory from Tibet.
External Affairs Minister Inder Kumar Gujral said the reported intrusion into India's frontier state of Himachal Pradesh was a "serious matter."
"It is a serious matter and I will convey the sentiments of the members to the defence minister," Gujral told parliament's lower house during a debate.
Opposition member Vijay Kumar Malhotra said "heavily-armed" Chinese troops in the past 14 days crossed over to India and photographed territory in Himachal Pradesh, which borders Tibet.
The Chinese troops had intruded six kilometres (3.9 miles/) into Indian territory, Malhotra said and described it as a "danger to the country's security."
Gujral said the federal government would publish a statement on the issue within a week.
India and China fought a brief but bitter border war in 1962. Bilateral relations between the two Asian neighbours have, however, improved after high-level visits began in 1988.
