In an article written in Chinese, strategic analyst Zhan Lue has contended that Beijing should break up India into 20-30 independent states with the help of friendly countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan.

The publication of the article nearly coincided with the 13th round of India-China border talks that ended in New Delhi Saturday on a positive note, with Beijing stressing on the need to build strategic trust with India and elevating strategic partnership to a new level to include coordination on global issues.

The article was published in the new edition of the website of China International Institute for Strategic Studies (CIISS), an influential think tank that advises the Chinese government on global and strategic issues.

In the article, Zhan suggests that China can give political support to Bangladesh to encourage ethnic Bengalis in India to get rid of the 'Indian control' and unite with Bangladesh as one Bengali nation.

If this is not possible, the creation of at least another free Bengali nation state as a friendly neighbour of Bangladesh, would be desirable for the purpose of weakening India's expansion and threat aimed at forming a 'unified South Asia,' the article argues.

The article recommends India's break-up into 20-30 nation-states like in Europe and contends that if the consciousness of 'nationalities' in India could be aroused, social reforms in South Asia can be achieved, the caste system can be eradicated and the region can march along the road of prosperity.