China has occupied 640 sq kms of India's land area: Reports

New Delhi, Sept 5: The Chinese side has stopped Indian troops from patrolling at the Line of Actual Control (

) and the latter has lost access to the line at some areas in eastern Ladakh, reports said on Thursday. A National Security Advisory Board (NSAB) ground situation report stressed this point.

The People's Liberation Army of China has gradually occupied nearly 640 square kilometres of area on the LAC in Ladakh in the past few months, said the reports.

When asked about this, External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid said he would not take a stand on the issue till he went through the report.

NSAB chief Shyam Saran had submitted the report to PM Manmohan Singh on Aug 10

The report was submitted by NSAB chairperson Shyam Saran to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on August 10 after the latter asked him to visit the eastern Ladakh and Siachen sectors from August 2 to 9 for overseeing the border infrastructure development and situation at the LAC.

Army sources reportedly told the news channel that reporters could be allowed to reach the Line of Control (LoC) and not LAC.

Saran was, however, evasive on the report and said the board was not concerned with operational matters.

OneIndia News