New Delhi, Sept 12: The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) today reviewed India-China relations in the context of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's landmark visit to that country in June. The two-and-a-half hour meeting, presided over by the Prime Minister, was attended by Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani, External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha, Defence Minister George Fernandes and Army Chief Gen N C Vij among others. "The CCS reviewed India-China relations in the context of Prime Minister's recent visit to China," External Affairs Ministry spokesman told reporters. On why the subject was taken up now since Vajpayee's visit took place about three months ago, he said "they chose today to use this meeting for this purpose". Asked whether the Iraq issue figured at the meeting, he said "this is all I am aware of".

The CCS meeting comes days ahead of Vajpayee's visit to New York to attend the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session.


This was the second meeting of the CCS, presided over by the Prime Minister, in a span of eight days. Official sources said the meeting also discussed the "general security situation" in the country and that there were no specific references to developments in Iraq or Jammu and Kashmir.

"It was a scheduled meeting of the CCS" which was held in the 'operations room' of the armed forces in south block, housing the Defence Ministry, the sources said.


Bureau Report