Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday arrived in Kashmir to assess the situation on the borders and hinterland in J&K and also visited a forward post at the highest military installation at Siachen glacier, located at a height of 5,400 m, in Ladakh.
It was Mr. Singh’s first visit to J&K as Defence Minister.
“I am proud of all Army personnel serving in Siachen who are leaving no stone unturned to defend our motherland. I am also proud of their parents who have sent their children to serve the nation by joining the armed forces. I will personally send a thank you note to them,” said Mr. Singh.
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He was accompanied by Army chief General Bipin Rawat.
Mr. Singh made an aerial reconnaissance of Siachen to get acquainted with the expanse of the formidable frozen frontier and landed at one of the forward posts there, said an official.
He praised the Army for its “unstinting commitment to face extreme harsh weather and highly treacherous terrain for maintaining the sanctity of our borders.”
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Describing Siachen as the world’s most inhospitable location, the Minister said the government would fulfil all the requirements for jawans posted at the glacier.
He also laid a wreath at the ‘Siachen War Memorial’ in memory of the soldiers who have made the supreme sacrifice.
Sources said the Army’s top brass briefed the Minister about the border situation in Kashmir and Jammu regions.
He was also apprised about the operations being carried out in the hinterland in the Valley and successes achieved this year.