Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Tuesday said India did not consider China a ‘threat’ but described cross-border terrorism as the biggest menace to world peace and stability.
“We do not believe in that type of phraseology,” Mukherjee said when asked to comment whether India viewed China as a “threat” during a interview with the state-run CCTV4 on the third day of his maiden official visit to China.
“In fact, my talks with the Defence Minister and the Foreign Minister, I made it quite clear to them that we trust each other. And we do not pose threat to each other. We do not consider China as a threat to us nor should consider India as a threat to China. We are not a threat to anybody,” Mukherjee, currently on a six-day official visit to China, asserted.
Mukherjee, however, used the opportunity to raise cross-border terrorism issue during the TV interview.
One major threat that is emerging, cutting across territorial boundary of the nation state, is cross border terrorism, he said, adding that arms smuggling, drug trafficking, illegal trafficking of human beings were also major problems.
“Terrorism has no territorial loyalty nor ideological loyalty. This is the biggest menace to world peace and tranquility. And more and more nations are aware of it and that is why collective efforts are being made to fight against the great menace,” he said.
Asked to comment on differences between India and China, he acknowledged that exits “divergent views” but efforts are on to address them. “We have divergence of views in respect of certain matters. We are trying to resolve that. And all these exercises are to resolve those divergent views and outstanding issues through peaceful dialogue, debate and discussion,” he said. Asked on the 1962 India-China conflict, Mukherjee said that the two sides should not dwell to the past but look towards the future.
{{/usCountry}}Asked to comment on differences between India and China, he acknowledged that exits “divergent views” but efforts are on to address them. “We have divergence of views in respect of certain matters. We are trying to resolve that. And all these exercises are to resolve those divergent views and outstanding issues through peaceful dialogue, debate and discussion,” he said. Asked on the 1962 India-China conflict, Mukherjee said that the two sides should not dwell to the past but look towards the future.
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