Expressing concern over two young archers from Arunachal Pradesh being prevented by immigration authorities from leaving for China to take part in an archery event because they had stapled Chinese visas on their passports, External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid on Saturday described it as a perplexed issue that has happened before and been resolved sometimes through diplomatic means and sometimes just by the passage of time.
"Now, exactly what has been done in this particular case, I am not well-informed about just now. But, I am sure, that by the time you get home, you would know what steps have been taken. We certainly regret these two young archers could not go to China because of this issue. This has happened before vis-a-vis visas given to residents of Arunachal and, we have resolved it sometimes through diplomatic means and sometimes through just passage of time," said Khurshid.
"What will be done in this specific case, we will let you know in due course," he added.
Khurshid, who was talking to media on Onboard Air India One, said essentially the unresolved issue with China is the different perception as far as the boundary is concerned.
"On the Line of Actual Control, as well as the boundary, we have different perceptions; I think this is not hidden from our people or, for the people in China. The different perceptions lead to some events and incidents that are unsavory and unacceptable as far as we are concerned. But, at the same time, we have over the years come into an understanding that many of the areas in which we don't have differences, India and China can continue to collaborate, cooperate and move forward. And, the difference of perception as far as the boundary issue is concerned, will continue to be handled through mechanisms that we have put in place," said Khurshid.
"Some of those mechanisms deal specifically with peace and tranquility on the border and the Line of Actual Control and some of those mechanisms look at a long-term prospective of how we can move forward towards the final resolution of the border. So, while this remains in process, is in the pipeline; there are periodic incidents that take place, for which, we have our own standard procedures in place, and, we respond with those standard procedures, and, we find an equilibrium," he added.
Several lawmakers from Arunachal Pradesh, including Chief Minister Nabam Tuki, had yesterday expressed disappointment with China's move, and asked New Delhi and Beijing to resolve this issue amicably.
Two young women archers from Arunachal Pradesh, who were prevented from boarding a China Southern Airlines flight at New Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport on Thursday night while they were heading to Wuxi for the Youth World Archery Championship, yesterday expressed shock and sadness over the entire incident.
"We had no clue that something of this sort would happen. We were prepared and all set for the championship. It was when we reached the airport that we got to know that our visas would not be accepted. We were very shocked," said Mihu Maselo, one of the two archers who were issued a stapled visa by the Chinese Embassy.
"When we reached the airport yesterday, we were given our visas and passports. We did not know that we had been issued stapled visas. When we went to get our boarding passes, we were told about the visas. They did not allow us to board the flight. So, we had to leave," added another archer Yumi Sorang.
The two girls met Archery Association of India President V.K. Malhotra over the issue in New Delhi yesterday.
Mihu Maselo and Yumi Sorang, the only two from Arunachal Pradesh in the 24-member archery squad, were stopped from boarding Thursday night's China Southern Airlines flight to Guangzhou for the Youth World Archery Championship at Wuxi.
According to reports, the airlines told the archers from Arunachal Pradesh they would not be allowed to enter China without a proper visa on their passports, and refused to accept the stapled visas issued by the Chinese Embassy.
The stabled visa issue comes at a time when Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh has said that India and China have steadily built a mature and mutually productive relationship.
"India and China are two civilizational neighbours. Economic cooperation constitutes a very important part of our relationship and the growth potential of our two economies can provide the engine for greater cooperation and can also contribute to prosperity in Asia and beyond," Dr. Singh said in an interview to an Indonesian newspaper, Kompas.
"We have had differences, but we have steadily built a mature and mutually beneficial relationship. We have maintained peace and tranquility on our borders. We also collaborate on a range of regional and global issues," he added.
Dr. Singh also said that he was convinced that there was enough space in the world today for cooperative efforts by all sides to meet their needs and aspirations.
