Rajnath reviews security situation in J&K, interacts with soldiers at Siachen

Srinagar: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who was on a day-long visit to Jammu and Kashmir, on Monday reviewed the security situation at the International Border, Line of Control (LoC) and in the hinterland in the state.
Mr Singh, who was on a maiden visit to state after assuming the charge as Defence Minister, also visited Siachen glacier and interacted with soldiers deployed at the world’s highest battlefield in Ladakh region.
Paying tributes to the martyred soldiers, who sacrificed their lives while serving in Siachen, Mr Singh said, “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.”
Mr Singh said that the soldiers in Siachen are performing their duty with great courage and fortitude even in extreme conditions and treacherous terrain. “I salute their vigour and valour,” he said.
“Visited a forward post and Siachen base camp today and interacted with the Army personnel serving in this region which is also known as the ‘the highest battle field in the world,” the Defence Minister twitted.
More than 1100 soldiers have made supreme sacrifice defending the Siachen Glacier. The nation will always remain indebted to their service and sacrifice.
An Army official said that Mr Singh after visiting Siachen War Memorial and forward posts in Ladakh region arrived in the summer capital on Monday evening. “The Defence Minister reviewed the border situation and the security situation in hinterland in Jammu and Kashmir on Monday at a meeting with the Army Chief General Bipin Rawat and other senior Army officers at the headquarters of 15 Corps Badami Bagh, Srinagar,” he said.
Mr Singh was informed about the situation on the LoC and the measures taken to prevent any infiltration from Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK). He was also briefed about the recent encounters in Kashmir valley, where over 100 militants, including some top commanders, were killed by security forces during the first five months of 2019. However, over 50 security force personnel have also lost their lives in these encounters during the period.
The Army official said that during his visit to Siachen, Mr Singh interacted with jawans at forward post. “The Defence Minister also paid tributes to fallen soldiers at Siachen War Memorial,” he said, adding Mr Singh also interacted with the jawans at Siachen base camp.