India rejects China's objection to Def Min's visit to Arunachal

New Delhi: India on Thursday rejected China's objection to Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's visit to Arunachal Pradesh, asserting that the state is an integral part of the country and Indian leaders are as much freedom to go there as to any other state.

"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," external affairs ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said.

To a question on next round of talks between Special Representatives of India and China on the boundary question, Kumar said both sides are in touch with each other.

"We do not have any confirmed dates for talks as yet. The two sides are in touch. Once we have some dates for it, we will let you know," he said during a media briefing. On Monday, China had objected to Sitharaman's first visit to Arunachal Pradesh on Saturday and Sunday, saying her tour of the "disputed area" was not conducive to peace in the region.