VISAKHAPATNAM: Stressing that controlling heights in Siachen Glacier is strategically important, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar today said the tragic deaths of 10 army personnel in the recent avalanche should not be linked to the issue of troop withdrawal from the highest battlefield in the world. He said the decision to capture heights at the strategically important terrains was well considered.
“The decision (to maintain presence in Siachen) was based on national security interests. We have lost thousands of soldiers. Lives lost are much fewer now thanks to better technological solutions,” Mr Parrikar said on the sidelines of a navy function here, when his attention was drawn on the recent avalanche in which 10 soldiers were buried alive.
Asserting that the incident was “painful,” he said the question of troop withdrawal is not proper to attach with it. “But should we withdraw from there? I do not think it is proper analysis. In this case (loss of lives in the incident), there are no loose ends. From what I understand, it was an avalanche.
Those climbing the Mt Everest calculate everything and yet incidents happen,” he said, adding that hope of finding any survivors was faint. Meanwhile, Army Chief Gen Dalbir Singh said that the operation to locate the bodies of the soldiers was on with rescue work even being carried out in the night time.
Talking, the Army Chief said that most modern machines have been dispatched to dig out the mortal remains, which may be deeply buried under the ice of wall.
“A large rescue team with ice cutters is at work. The operation can take a long time but we cannot leave our men behind,” the Army Chief said. (AGENCIES)
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