File picture of Shivshankar Menon
India has denied seeking any assistance from the US on the Chinese border incursions in Ladakh, asserting that New Delhi is capable enough to take care of its own territorial integrity.
"Ultimately it is sovereign function to take care of India's own territorial integrity. We are not going around asking other people to take care of our interest. We are an independent country," National Security Advisor Shivshankar Menon said on Tuesday as he concluded his six-day US trip, during which he met top officials of the Obama administration.
In April, Chinese PLA troops had intruded 10 km deep inside Indian territory in Ladakh and set up a tented post.
"Your question was have you gone to the Americans asking them to defend India. The answer is no," Mr Menon said when asked if India had sought any American assistance to defend its borders during the recent Chinese incursions, in light of a CIA report released last week, that revealed that India had sought US help in the aftermath of the 1962 Sino-India war.
"Which year was that? You ask me did I go and ask the Americans to defend India. My answer is no. That is not the question that in today's day and age you need to ask," Mr Menon said in a terse response to a question.
"That kind of question (asking for US help on Chinese border incursion), I do not think should be asked," he said.
During his stay in Washington, Mr Menon met his American counterpart Susan Rice; US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel and US Deputy Secretary of State William Burns, among others.