Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday called Siachen as the ‘capital of valour and courage’, asserting its significance as India’s symbol of ‘sovereignty and perseverance’.
The defence minister visited the Siachen base camp, renowned as the world’s highest battlefield, to assess the country’s overall military readiness in the region.
Addressing Indian Army troops stationed at the base camp, Rajnath Singh emphasised, “The land of Siachen is not an ordinary land. It is a symbol of the country’s sovereignty and perseverance. It represents our national determination. Our national capital is Delhi, Mumbai is our economic capital, our technological capital is Bengaluru, but Siachen is the capital of valour and courage.”
Singh’s visit to Siachen came over a week after the Indian Army celebrated the 40th anniversary of its presence in the strategically vital region.
Accompanied by Army Chief General Manoj Pande, the defence minister reviewed the overall security situation in the area, according to officials.
The Siachen glacier, situated at an elevation of around 20,000 feet in the Karakoram range, is recognised as the highest militarised zone globally, where soldiers contend with frostbite and high winds.
Under ‘Operation Meghdoot’, the Indian Army assumed complete control over the Siachen Glacier in April 1984. In recent years, the Indian Army has bolstered its presence in Siachen.
In January last year, Captain Shiva Chauhan from the Army’s Corps of Engineers was stationed at a frontline post in Siachen Glacier, marking the first operational deployment of a woman Army officer at this pivotal battlefield.
“The Indian Army’s control over Siachen Glacier has not only been a story of unparalleled valour and determination but also an incredible journey of technological advancements and logistical improvements that transformed it from one of the most formidable terrains into a symbol of indomitable spirit and innovation,” an Army official had said last week.
(With inputs from agencies)
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