Indian media hail new pact with China

In an editorial, the Hindu newspaper said the decision by both sides to launch an initiative to "break the impasse over the boundary dispute" should boost bilateral ties.

The paper described the initiative as the "centrepiece" of the Beijing declaration and said it was "both acknowledgement of the year-long deadlock over exchange of boundary maps and the political resolve to end it at the earliest."

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Ties between the world's two most populous countries have for decades been plagued by tensions over issues such as Tibet and their mutual borders, with the two countries fighting a bitter border conflict in 1962 and tension flaring again in 1986.

Noting that this was the first joint declaration to be released by the two countries, the Hindu paper said it gave "the seal of formal approval to the pragmatism and proven step-by-step approach to problem solving."

The declaration and the memorandum of understanding on border trade "has the potential to end a long period of mutual suspicion," it added.

A striking aspect of the evolving relationship "is the conscious decision to anchor bilateral relations to economics through greater trade and investments," the editorial noted.

This view was echoed by an editorial in the Hindustan Times which noted that "an emphasis on trade" had marked Vajpayee's China visit.

This was reflected in an agreement to allow trade through the ancient Nathu La pass in India's northeastern state of Sikkim into Tibet, the Hindustan Times said.

Times News Network reports that India's decision to recognise Tibet as part of China has evoked strong reactions from timesofindia.com readers. While some termed it as "simply horrifying," one reader called it "total stupidity".

According to many readers, the Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, had finally gone and sold even the "semblance of integrity and worthiness that we possessed". "Are we going to drive out the Dalai Lama and the Rinpoches from the country to please China? One reader asked.

"China has trespassed into Tibet and taken over the land that belonged to the Tibetans. While we pride ourselves on being free and independent, we now take away from the Tibetans who have entrusted themselves into our hands, their right to even demand freedom. Let's now just wait in the stands and watch as the Tibetans in India move to other places as refugees and the Dalai Lama moves on to a country that offers him the dignity to see his peace process through," wrote one incensed reader.

Another reader wrote, "Shame! India has betrayed the Tibetans! For years, they looked to us as friends. It hurts all the more when a friend betrays you. Generations of Tibetans suffered beatings, mutilation, poisoning, electric shocks, executions, and many more unspeakable torments. All that wouldn't have hurt as much as it would now. "

However, another reader opined, "Definitely shifting from principle adopted for a long time is not an easy decision. But in the context of rapidly changing global landscape, if you can't walk in same pace, your presence will be irrelevant. Considering all these factors, we should take few calculated moves. But how much benefit we get out of all these exercises is to be found out. Just for the sake of improving relationship with big power, we can't keep our identity at stake."