E-Paper
No decision on troops pull out from Siachen: Pranab
A ceasefire has been in force on the Actual Ground Position Line in the Siachen area since the midnight of November 25, 2003.
There is no decision at present to pull out troops from the Siachen Glacier, Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee informed the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday.
A ceasefire has been in force on the Actual Ground Position Line in the Siachen area since the midnight of November 25, 2003, Mukherjee said in a written reply, adding that there is no decision at present to pull out troops from the world's highest battlefield.
To another question, the Defence Minister said the Government has planned to phase out the Russian MiG-25 by 2006-07 due to expiry of the Calender Life (CL)/Total Technical Life (TTL) of the aircraft. The MiG-21 aircraft would also be phased out from the Indian Air Force after expiry of its CL/TTL, he said.
To a related question, Mukherjee said a total number of twelve MiG-21 of the IAF were lost during the last three years between 2003-06 in which 13 people, including seven pilots, lost their lives.
He said each aircraft accident in the IAF is investigated through a Court of Inquiry (COI) and remedial actions as per the recommendations of the COI are taken.
Besides, a continuous and multi-faceted effort is always underway to enhance and upgrade flight safety including measures to enhance the quality of training to improve the skill level, ability to exercise sound judgement and situation awareness of pilots, he said.
Mukherjee also said India has received representation from the Nepal Sadhbhawana Party (A) for recruitment in the Indian Army and creation of Madhesish Regiment.
