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ReturnIndia-China Silk route set to re-open after three decades
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PublishDate：
2006-06-02 14:56:00
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Nathu La (Sikkim): An ancient trade route between India and China—Nathu La-Lhasa Silk Route—which is closed for over three decades, is set to reopen in a month's time as ties between the neighbours warm, officials said.
After a series of negotiations at government and military levels between the two nations, work is on at full swing to open the historic trade route shut down in 1974, years after the neigbours fought war in 1962.
"It was part of the old Nathu La-Lhasa Silk Route through which
trade used to take place between India and China. In 1974, this
came to a halt. And thereafter, this year there are efforts (to
re-open the route). Hopefully, the trade would start soon, on a
mutually agreed date between both the governments," Commander S.L. Narasimhan, in charge of the sector, said.
Though the pass is located at a very high altitude and tough terrain, the construction of a road between Nathu La and Lhasa is progressing well.
"It's one of the most important and strategic passes here. You can also see the activity, which is happening here. It is for the trade, which is opening up between India and China, likely to open in another month or so. The relations between India and China are very cordial, very fine. And are going to improve more once this trade opens up," Colonel Indrajit Singh Chauhan, whose battalion has been posted in the region for over five months, said.
Nathu La, located in the northeastern Indian state of Sikkim, is not only a strategic pass between India and China, but is also significant historically.
Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama took this pass when he fled to India. Country's first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru and his daughter Indira Gandhi crossed the pass enroute to Bhutan in 1956.
After a series of negotiations at government and military levels between the two nations, work is on at full swing to open the historic trade route shut down in 1974, years after the neigbours fought war in 1962.
"It was part of the old Nathu La-Lhasa Silk Route through which
trade used to take place between India and China. In 1974, this
came to a halt. And thereafter, this year there are efforts (to
re-open the route). Hopefully, the trade would start soon, on a
mutually agreed date between both the governments," Commander S.L. Narasimhan, in charge of the sector, said.
Though the pass is located at a very high altitude and tough terrain, the construction of a road between Nathu La and Lhasa is progressing well.
"It's one of the most important and strategic passes here. You can also see the activity, which is happening here. It is for the trade, which is opening up between India and China, likely to open in another month or so. The relations between India and China are very cordial, very fine. And are going to improve more once this trade opens up," Colonel Indrajit Singh Chauhan, whose battalion has been posted in the region for over five months, said.
Nathu La, located in the northeastern Indian state of Sikkim, is not only a strategic pass between India and China, but is also significant historically.
Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama took this pass when he fled to India. Country's first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru and his daughter Indira Gandhi crossed the pass enroute to Bhutan in 1956.
