Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, May 13: Less than a week after the conclusion of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s first visit to China in first year of his Government, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar along with Army chief Gen Dalbir Singh Suhag will be visiting Eastern sector of Ladakh along Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China and then Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir on May 22.
Northern Army Commander Lt Gen DS Hooda will accompany Parrikar, who will be on his first visit to Jammu and Kashmir after taking over as the Defence Minister.
Modi will conclude his three days China visit, beginning tomorrow, on May 16.
The visit of the Defence Minister and the Army chief to Leh was aimed at holding detailed review of scenario along Sino-Indian LAC in Eastern sector of Ladakh with top Army Commanders stationed in Leh including General Officer Commanding (GOC), Leh based 14 Corps, Lt Gen BS Negi.
“Situation at Siachen, the highest battle field in the world, will also come up for detailed review during the meeting the Defence Minister will have with the Army chief, the Northern Army Commander, GOC 14 Corps and other top Army officials in Leh,” official sources told the Excelsior.
Though there had been no reports of any incursions by the Chinese side in Leh during one year tenure of Narendra Modi, the Indian Government didn’t want to take any chances and was determined to take all steps to strengthen its boundaries on the un-demarcated LAC with China. The India wants to construct roads right up to the LAC with China to raise the standard of road infrastructure in case of any eventuality.
The Defence Minister and the Army Commanders would fly to Srinagar in the afternoon for review of security scenario along Line of Control (LoC) with Pakistan especially the summer strategy as the snow has started melting and there were specific inputs that the militants might attempt to infiltrate into the Indian side from the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir.
GOC Srinagar based 15 Corps Lt Gen Subrata Saha will give detailed briefing on the security situation to the Defence Minister and the Army chief.
Sources said overall security scenario, cross-LoC infiltration, strengthening of Counter-Insurgency Grid, Amarnath yatra arrangements and counter-terror operations in Jammu and Kashmir were high on agenda of the Defence Minister for review during his visit to Srinagar.
The Army has reports that a number of well trained Pakistani militants were stationed across LoC and would try to infiltrate into the Indian territory with the melting of snow.
“As the Army was well aware of this strategy of the militants, which is supported by the Pakistan army, it has already taken pre-emptive measures to thwart infiltration by the militants not only from the traditional routes but also the uncovered routes,” sources said.
They added that the Defence Minister would review Counter-Insurgency Grid in the Kashmir valley during his visit and steps to strengthen it further to plug infiltration routes and thwart any attempts by the militants in interior areas to target installations of Army and other security forces.
Parrikar would also get detailed briefing on security arrangements for Amarnath yatra, starting July 2. The yatra, this year, will continue till August 29. Army will play crucial role in security arrangements for Amarnath yatra as it would be manning the heights and shrine area of Shri Amarnath ji in South Kashmir Himalayas apart from other crucial points.
Sources said the Army wants its summer strategy against the militants, which has already been put in place, to be successful to maintain peace in the Kashmir Valley to ensure peaceful tourist season and Amarnath yatra. Moreover, if the infiltration attempts by the militants were curbed, number of the militants would go down drastically in the State, bringing relief to the people and reducing number of terror attacks.
The Defence Minister was expected to visit some forward posts on the LoC during his visit.
Though Parrikar will not visit Jammu during his first visit to the State, he would be briefed on the situation in Jammu region including LoC in twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch by the Northern Army Commander, who would accompany the Defence Minister and the Army chief during their visit.
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