India calls off IAF chief's visit to China

New Delhi, Sept 02: In an apparent snub, the Government of

on Monday rejected

's invitation to the

(IAF) chief NAK Browne.

The decision to call off IAF chief's upcoming visit is perhaps taken in the view of increased Chinese troops' incursion along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

According to sources, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) wants Browne's visit should be preceded by a visit from China.

A senior Defence Ministry official told a news channel, "Visits of military chiefs are governed by protocol. It is China's turn to send a representative to India."

A top government official told a newspaper, "We want to deepen engagement with Beijing, but don't want to be seen as bending over backwards. There's been a flurry of visits by top Indian officials to China. However, there have been few reciprocal visits."

Last month, Chinese soldiers intruded into Indian territory and camped for three days.

MEA wants IAF chief's visit should be preceded by a visit from China.

In April also, Chinese troops erected tents at Daulat Beg Oldie in Ladakh, 19 km into Indian territory.

China invited the IAF chief last month to visit their country.

The Army Chief General Bikram Singh is scheduled to visit China in November and the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh is also expected to visit the country later this year.

The External Affairs minister Salman Khurshid, Defence Minister AK Antony and the National Security Advisor Shivshankar Menon have already visited China this year.

OneIndia News