Thaindian News

Shillong, Sep 23 (IANS) US consul general in Kolkata Dean R. Thompson Friday expressed hope that India and China would hold dialogue to end the boundary issue in Arunachal Pradesh.

“We would like to see China and India resolve this boundary issue (Arunachal Pradesh). They should be in dailogue and resolve it,” Thompson told IANS on his maiden visit to this mountainous state capital of Meghalaya.

Stating that the US was a big supporter of India and China, the official said: “India is maintaining good relations with Bangladesh and we would also like to see that China and India further improved their bilateral relations.”

India and China fought a bitter border war in 1962 with Chinese troops advancing deep into Arunachal Pradesh and inflicting heavy casualties on poorly-armed Indian troops.

China has never recognised the McMahon Line that the erstwhile British rulers drew on map to demarcate boundary bedtween India and Tibet, and claims 90,000 sq km, including nearly all of Arunachal Pradesh. India accuses China of occupying 8,000 sq km in Jammu and Kashmir.

After 1962, tensions flared again in 1986 with Indian and Chinese forces clashing in the Sumdorong Chu Valley of Arunachal Pradesh.

Thompson, who attended a business meet organised by the Indian Chamber of Commerce, said that one of their main goals is to expand the relationship between the US and northeastern India.

“India is a huge, diverse country and the northeastern states are fascinating, complex states, with both regional and individual roles and market forces, but the northeastern states are the potential gateway to the Southeast Asia and could be a major hub of economic activities.”

“We in the US government, and particularly those of us in consulate at Kolkata, are optimistic that the northeast is endowed with the assets for a brilliant future - a strong culture of education, abundant natural resources, and geographical advantages,” he said.