NEW DELHI – Indian President Ram Nath Kovind today visited the Army basecamp in Siachen, the world’s highest battlefield, and expressed gratitudeto the soldiers posted there.
Kovind said he had come to Siachen to iterate to the troops posted herethat all citizens of India and Government of India were always with themand supportive of their families. Addressing the soldiers, he said as thesupreme commander of the armed forces and as the president of India, he hadcome to them carrying the gratitude of the entire country.
The president said Siachen was the world’s highest battlefield and it wasdifficult to live even a normal life in the extreme climate. “In such asituation, it is extraordinary for soldiers to stay in a state of constantmobilisation and combat readiness.
Their determination and dedication is worthy of the highest praise – andtheir allegiance to the defence of India is an ideal for all our fellowcitizens,” Kovind said. The president also visited the Kumar Post.
Kovind is the second president to visit Siachen. The previous visit wasundertaken by former president APJ Abdul Kalam in April 2004.This makesKovind the first president to travel to Siachen in 14 years.
He also asked soldiers posted at Siachen to visit the Rashtrapati Bhavanwhen they get time to visit Delhi. The president paid his respects at theSiachen war memorial, a symbol of the sacrifice of 11,000 soldiers andofficers who have been killed since the Indian Army began OperationMeghdoot on the Siachen glacier on April 13, 1984.
Some of the posts on Siachen were located at an altitude of more than20,000 feet where the temperature dropped upto minus 52 degrees Celsius,making it the toughest war field for the soldiers guarding it.