'Contrary to the popular perception, the situation along the border has remained peaceful for decades,' Rao said.

National Security Adviser M.K. Narayanan and army chief Gen. Deepak Kapoor also cautioned against the media hype and stressed that there was nothing alarming about the reported incursions.

Narayanan expressed concern, saying that if such reports continued, 'someone somewhere might lose his cool and something might go wrong.'

Underlining the developing nature of relationship between India and China, Rao, a former ambassador to China, said the leaderships of the two countries are in regular communication over important bilateral issues.

'We remain in constant touch over all mutual issues. The leadership-level understandings and communication remain open all the time,' Rao said.