File photo of Home Minister Rajnath Singh
India today said it has "honest intentions" for an amicable resolution of the border dispute
with China and has asked it to come forward to end the differences.
"There is a perceptional difference along the Sino-Indian border. China says the border is here. We say no, the border is here. We have been trying to resolve the border problem. China should come forward. India wants a peaceful resolution of all disputes," Home Minister Rajnath Singh said in Kanpur after inaugurating a battalion camp of border guarding force ITBP.
Mr Singh, who flew down from Delhi for the event, said, India never had any territorial ambitions and his government wants resolution of "perceptional differences" on this frontier.
"We are not expansionist. India's history says that we have never been expansionist. We have never attacked any country. We are worshippers of peace. China should understand this. We want to resolve all issues with honesty (imaandari ke saath)," he said.
The home minister said his ministry has already approved 35 new border posts for the troops of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police force, the designated security force at this frontier. Twenty-two border posts are going to function soon while on 13 others works is on, he said.
He said dedicated air connectivity has "already" been given to the ITBP in December last year and for enhanced mobility of the troops, work is on at 27 priority roads out of the 34 sanctioned by the Ministry of Home Affairs or MHA.
"123 mobile phone towers have been sanctioned by the Ministry of Home Affairs for improved connectivity for ITBP personnel working in the icy heights here so that they can regularly talk to their families," he said.
Mr Singh said work was on in his ministry to quickly ensure enhanced rotational postings for ITBP personnel.
He also referred to the recent visit of US President Barack Obama to India to say that the country wants better relations with every nation in the world and especially with its immediate neighbours.
"US President had come to India. We want to improve relations with America and other countries. Equally, we want to improve relations with our neighbouring countries. India always believes that the whole world is a family. We believe that neighbouring countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Bhutan all are part of our family. We want to maintain good relations with all our neighbouring countries as well as rest of the world," he said.
Replying to questions on the sidelines of the event, Mr Singh said India had no problems with the increasing the cooperation and friendship between its two neighbours-- Pakistan and China.
"We have no issues. Let them improve their relations. India wants to improve its relations with all neighbouring countries," he said.
He refused to comment on the recent charge sheet filed by the National Investigation Agency or NIA in the case of a Kashmiri resident Liyaqat Shah where the agency has accused Delhi Police's Special Cell of framing him as a terrorist. "I don't want to comment. It is a sub-judice matter," he said.