Farooq Abdullah hails parliamentary panel's decision to visit Eastern Ladakh, says ties with China old

National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah on Saturday welcomed the decision of the parliamentary standing committee to visit eastern Ladakh to talk to officers and find out everything, saying that relations between India and China were "old and should remain."

"I think that it is a good step that the parliament panel is going there to know everything and talk to the officers. Our friendship with China was old and it should be remain. For this, China should also take the initiative; it cannot be possible from one side," the NC Chief told .

Farooq said he was happy that the team would be taken there to review the situation.

"We want that China should go back to its place and the situation will be better. India does not want to fight anybody and always tries to solve issues by discussions with its neighbouring countries," Abdullah said.

Asking about the allegations that India had surrendered its territory to China, the NC leader said that there is no doubt that the country has occupied our land.

"There is no doubt that China has taken our land, but how much can be only known after the visit. We the parliamentary panel members will talk to the people and officers whether China has gone back or is still there," he added.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on February 11 made a statement in Lok Sabha on the Present situation in Eastern Ladakh. The minister said the agreement on disengagement in the Pangong lake area envisages that both sides will cease their forward deployments in "a phased, coordinated and verified manner."

He said the Chinese side will keep its troop presence in the North Bank area to the east of Finger 8.

"Indian troops will be based at their permanent base at Dhan Singh Thapa Post near Finger 3. Similar action would be taken in the South Bank area by both sides," the minister said.

The Defence Minister said it has also been agreed to convene the next meeting of the Senior Commanders within 48 hours after the complete disengagement in the Pangong Lake area so as to address and resolve all other remaining issues.

The two countries have been a stand-off along the LAC since April-May last year due to the actions of the Chinese army and have held several rounds of military and diplomatic talks.

( With inputs from ANI )