New Delhi: India on Thursday snubbed China and rejected its objections to Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's visit to Arunachal Pradesh, asserting that the state is an integral part of the country.
“Arunachal Pradesh is an integral part of India and Indian leaders have that much freedom to visit Arunachal as they have in visiting other states in the country,” MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said.
The Centre also snubbed Beijing's reported statement that India seems to be "wavering" on its position regarding the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), categorically asserting that the “CPEC violates India's sovereignty and territorial integrity”.
India also made it clear that for talks with Pakistan to go ahead, there has to be a conducive environment and atmosphere free of terror and free of terrorists receiving support from Islamabad. On Monday, China had objected to Ms Sitharaman's first visit to Arunachal on Saturday and Sunday.
