Army chief at Siachen to review preparedness

Indian Army chief General Deepak Kapoor today rushed to the Siachen Glacier, the world's highest battle field in J&K, to take stock of the preparedness of the troops posted there.

Indian Army chief General Deepak Kapoor on Monday rushed to the Siachen Glacier, the world's highest battle field in Jammu and Kashmir, to take stock of the preparedness of the troops posted there.

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The visit comes a day after the Pakistan Air Force checked its preparedness by flying fighter jets.

The Siachen Glacier is located at a height of up to 22,000 ft where Indian and Pakistan troops have been standing eyeball to eyeball since 1984.

“Kapoor went to the Siachen Glacier on a day's visit. He flew down to the Kumar Post located at 16,000 ft,” a senior defence official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Maj Gen VK Ahluwalia, Commander of 14 Corps, briefed Kapoor on the security scenario on his way back.

Kapoor's visit comes after a crucial 'war room' meeting of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh with Defence Minister AK Antony, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Home Minister P Chidambaram and the three service chiefs last week to assess the overall security situation in the country.

The Army chief's visit to the Siachen Glacier has come at a time when the tensions between India and Pakistan are high in the wake of the November 26 Mumbai terrorist attack.

India has sought to build pressure on Pakistan to take action against the perpetrators of the brazen terror attack who it has maintained had come from Pakistan. However, Islamabad continues to ask for more evidence.

External Affairs Minister Mukherjee has said the government was keeping all the options, including military action, open.