India downplays China's stand on Arunachal

India [ Images ] on Tuesday said it would like to depend on its "friendship and understanding" with China to resolve the Arunachal Pradesh boundary issue.

Asked about Chinese Ambassador Sun Yuxi's recent remark that Arunachal Pradesh was a disputed area between India and China, Home Minister Shivraj Patil [ Images ] said, "We would first like to depend on friendship and understanding to solve such issues."

Patil, who visited the strategically important town of Tawang, located less than 100 km from the India-China border, also said security measures in the area were adequate.

"Our forces are strong enough," he said. Top military officials briefed Patil and Special Secretary (Internal Security) Anil Chaudhary for almost an hour on the security situation.