Indo-China border talks: Cabinet committee clears agenda

New Delhi: The cabinet committee on security (CCS) on Thursday cleared the agenda for the two-day India-China talks starting on Friday. The talks are aimed at resolving a long-standing boundary dispute between the two countries, and will be conducted by India's national security adviser, MK Narayanan and Chinese vice foreign minister, Dai Bingguo, special representatives of both the countries.

The talks will be held over two days in New Delhi and Ooty.

The CCS also received a detailed briefing on last week's successful test firing of the nuclear capable 3,000-km intermediate range ballistic missile Agni III from top defence scientists, an official spokesman said.

Amongst the scientists involved in the briefing were Dr M Natrajan, scientific advisor to the defence minister and also chief of the defence research and development organization (DRDO) and Avinash Chander, mission director of the Agni Group of long range surface-to- surface missiles, including other technicians.

The 3,000 km plus range Agni III underwent a successful test firing last week and now brings virtually all of China within range of an Indian nuclear response. Indian scientists have said that the missile could be inducted into service in two to three years, and that its range could also be extended to 5,000 km.

The meeting was chaired by prime minister Manmohan Singh and was attended, among others, by defence minister AK Antony, external affairs minister, Pranab Mukherjee, finance minister P Chidambaram, home minister Shivraj Patil and senior government officials.

The two special representatives last met in New Delhi in January and will now work at giving the talks a further push. There is speculation that an agreement may be arrived at which will be presented as a highlight during prime minister Manmohan Singh's visit to Beijing later in the year.