Northern army commander visits India-China border, Siachen

Jammu, March 10 (IANS) Indian Army's commander in Jammu and Kashmir reviewed the situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China during a visit to Ladakh region, a defence official said Thursday.

According to the defence spokesman, Northern Command chief Lt. Gen. K.T. Parnaik visited eastern Ladakh where he reviewed the state of 'defence preparedness' along the 646-km-long LAC, in the news after reports of incursions by Chinese troops. No other details were mentioned.

The army commander also visited Siachen Glacier, the highest battlefield in the world, he said.

'Gen. Parnaik interacted with the officers and troops and appreciated their efforts in carrying out their assigned tasks whilst braving the hardships of high altitude, weather and terrain in the most challenging area of the country,' the spokesman said.

Siachen glacier is spread over 76 km at the height of 18,000 to 21,000 feet above sea level.

Though it is peaceful right now since the 2003 ceasefire between India and Pakistan along the Line of Control (LoC) and the the Actual Ground Position Line (AGPL) on the glacier, it saw skirmishes and battles between the two nations almost on daily basis between 1984 and 2003.