Chronology of rebirth of the Nathu La Silk route

Nathu La/Kolkata, Jul 06: Following is the chronology of the rebirth of the Nathu La trade route:- 1815-1865: Trans-Himalayan Trade through Nathu La begins to take formal shape after British annexed Sikkim, Bhutan and Nepal territories.

December 1893: Agreement between Sikkim and Tibet allows trade between two neighbours along Lhasa-Kalimpong route.

September 1904: Convention signed between British and Tibetans facilities opening up of border trade and gives control of Chumbi valley to British. This takes place in absence of the Dalai Lama, who flees to (Urga) Mongolia after the Younghusband expedition reaches Tibet.

November 1904: China and Britain ink deal approving border trade between Tibet and Sikkim.

October 1962: Border trade comes to a halt following Indo-China war.

1988: Rajiv Gandhi visits China, reconfirms Beijing's suzerainty over Tibet.

1993: Talks on border trade begin during P V Narasimha Rao's visit.

2003: India, China sign memorandum on reopening of Nathu La during Vajpayee's visit.

June 2006: Agreement signed during Pranab Mukherjee's visit.

UNI

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