Defence Minister Rajnath Singh arrives in Leh to carry out security review
New Delhi, July 17 (HS) Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday morning reached Leh on a two-day visit amidst ongoing tension along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China. Singh will also interact with the soldiers and review the operational preparedness of the force.
The Minister, who is on a two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh region, flew from Delhi to Leh early in the morning. He is accompanied by Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat and Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane.
Before leaving for Leh he tweeted, “Leaving for Leh on a two-day visit to Ladakh and Jammu-Kashmir. I shall be visiting the forward areas to review the situation at the borders and also interact with the Armed Forces personnel deployed in the region. Looking forward to it.”
After reaching Leh, he will first go to the Army Hospital where he will meet the soldiers who got injured during a barbaric attack made by Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) on the night of 15/16 June in Galwan Valley.
From here, he will go to the border with Pakistan (LoC) and take stock of the preparations on the Pakistan border. He will also visit the 14th Corps of the Army at Leh and will meet military command and other officers.
Currently, both India and China are engaged in military and diplomatic deliberation to de-escalate the tense situation at the border areas. The countries are locked in 10-week-long standoff at multiple points in Eastern Ladakh region.
On Tuesday, delegates from both the countries held long deliberations about disengagement and de-escalation of troops and materials at the borders in Eastern Ladakh. The meeting lasted for 15 hours. Indian delegates reportedly during the meeting asked Chinese People’s Liberation Army troops to completely withdraw from Pangong Lake and Depsang.
