Indian officials downplay former Air Chief's remarks on China

Yekaterinburg, June 15 (ANI): Just hours ahead of the Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh's meeting with Chinese President Hu Jintao in Russian Industrial city of Yeketerinberg, senior officials in the Indian delegation on Monday chose to downplay former Indian Air Force (IAF) chief Air Chief Marshal Fali Homi Major' recent comments about China as being "his independent position and not the policy statement."

Officials further said that policy statements are made by Ministers and officials, only if they are entitled for the same.

In May, the then IAF chief Fali Homi Major, during an interview to an English daily, was quoted to have stated that in the wake of its military expansion, China was a "bigger threat" than Pakistan.

But later, the IAF chief declined to have made such remarks.

Indicating further movement on the Indo-Sino Border talks, special representatives of both the countries are meeting. It would be the 12th round of talks. by Naveen Kapoor(ANI)