By M.R. Narayan Swamy
Hua Hin (Thailand), Oct 25 (IANS) Asserting that the Sino-Indian border dispute cannot be wished away, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said Sunday that he and his Chinese counterpart Wen Jiabao had agreed to maintain “peace and tranquility” on their winding and disputed frontier.

Manmohan Singh also told journalists at the end of a hectic two-day visit to Thailand that he had informed Wen that India viewed the Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, whose proposed trip to Arunachal Pradesh next month has been opposed by Beijing, as an “honoured guest” and “a religious leader”.

The prime minister said he had “a frank and constructive exchange of views” with Wen both during their formal delegation-level meeting Saturday morning and at the dinner hosted by the Thai prime minister at night. He underlined that the Dalai Lama figured only at the dinner talks.

He said he discussed with Wen various issues and they agreed that these should be resolved amicably.

Differences between the two countries would be taken up by the Indian and Chinese foreign ministers when they meet in Bangalore two days later as part of a three-nation dialogue also involving Russia, he added.

“There is a complex border question that cannot be wished away,” Manmohan Singh, speaking candidly on a range of issues that have strained relations between the world’s two most populous countries over the past one month, sparking a war of words.

“There are established channels to resolve issues. One doesn’t have to go to the media to exaggerate (the state of affairs).

“Both (of us) agreed that the boundary question is a complex question. Both have an objective to maintain peace and tranquility on the border.”

The prime minister’s comments followed the Chinese military’s reported incursions into India and Beijing’s unprecedented criticism of Manmohan Singh’s visit to Arunachal Pradesh, the northeastern Indian state that Beijing claims.

Manmohan Singh said he took up the issue of China building a dam on the Brahmaputra, which has caused worries in India’s northeast as it could divert the river water and cause drought.

But he said he did not discuss the issue of China issuing visas to people from Jammu and Kashmir on separate sheets rather than on Indian passports.

“There was a general discussion of all bilateral issues. I did not specifically raise the (visa) issue. Be in Arunachal Pradesh or Jammu and Kashmir, they are integral parts of the country.”

Pressed if the Dalai Lama, who has lived in India since 1959 in self-imposed exile, would visit Arunachal Pradesh, the prime minister replied: “All I can say that I explained to Wen that the Dalai Lama is our honoured guest. He is a religious leader. ”

But he quickly added that India does not allow political activities by the Tibetan exile community.

“I am not aware of the Dalai Lama’s (Arunachal) programme. I have explained this position to the Chinese leadership.”

He pointed out that India cracked down on Tibetans when it became clear that there could be protests against the Chinese Olympic Torch relay when it passed through New Delhi.

The prime minister again described the Maoist movement as the biggest internal security threat to India and said that New Delhi’s destiny lay in integrating itself with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).