Address at Base Camp, Siachen Glacier

Leadership for high altitude battle

Dear Jawans, JCOs and Officers. Today I have visited Kumar, and the Siachen Battle School in Base Camp-1. When I was flying from Thoise to Kumar and back, I was witnessing the challenge of snowy terrain with fast winds. Now I am with you. Your Brigade has a tremendous responsibility for defending the Siachen Sector, in varied seasons under heavy snow fall and against incessant gun firings some times. Now I know the guns are silent. The 75 kms long, 2 to 4 kms wide Siachen glacier is of extreme geo-strategic importance where our Indira Pol meets POK and Aksai Chin. Many battles have been fought during the last 20 years to establish our supremacy. It is a war of deeds. You have defended it with valour and blood. Your will power and love for the nation are the most powerful battle winning weapons. A strong mind and physique is an asset for national security and provides leadership to high altitude battle.

Battle at the highest altitude

Nation realizes that you are encountering not one adversary but two. One across the border and the other the inhospitable nature. We recognize that you are fighting a battle at the highest altitude in the world. It is the duty of the nation to ensure your welfare and happiness and the happiness of your families at all times. You must remember that when 102 Brigade is defending Siachen sector you are not only defending India?s territorial integrity and water resources but you are also partnering in and fueling the economic development mission of the nation which will make our children live in a happy, prosperous and safe India.

Noteworthy performance of our Armed forces

I know that the Indian armed forces are one of best in the world, perhaps the best. Not only am I saying this, the whole international community speaks about this. This is amply demonstrated by your brave performance during the four wars in 1948, 1965, 1971 and 1999. You have also participated in many international and UN peacekeeping missions and performed extremely well. We are proud of your achievements.

Peace and security

The troops in Siachen sector have to be always alert with very fast reaction time. But I can assure you that the nation is fully conscious of its responsibility in enhancing troops survivability, sustainability, efficiency and motivation with cheers. Nation has a comprehensive security plan. We are also having diplomatic approach for peace; some positive and encouraging signs are visible along the western and northern borders. There is a sustained effort to modernize all the three wings of the armed forces and equip them with the latest and the state-of-the-art technologies with sufficient resources allotted.

Equipping our troops

I am sure this brigade has all the necessary winter clothing, food with sufficient calories, modern reconnaissance equipments and attack weaponry for mountain warfare. From base camp you have to walk for a few days to reach your post. At that time apart from winter clothing you should use thermally heated shoes and should carry a map indicating possible avalanche prone areas and crevasse mapping using Ground Penetration Radar, which is likely to be available very soon. I would recommend our troops to get trained in the usage of handheld GPS, while moving from base camp to post and post-to-post and patrolling. When I was Scientific Advisor to Raksha Mantri, after visiting Siachen in April 1998, I gave priority to five defence labs to conduct R&D to provide specific operational support to Siachen Sector. Now, I am being assured, that the fruits of those R&D efforts results are coming in. Fresh vegetables and milk for the Jawans, lighter weapons, lighter uniform and efficient reconnaissance equipment have become a reality today for our Jawans. I would like to see that the Partapur detachment of Field Research Laboratory (FRL) supplies certain types of vegetables and fresh milk all through the year. This can also be augmented by the main FRL through a well-organized movement plan between Leh and Base Camp.

I understand that now it is possible with Ground Penetration Radars fitted on the helicopter/aircraft, one can map the crevasses with good accuracy. Definitely this GPR system in combination with GPS will be made available to the 102 Brigade. During patrolling, I understand that the soldier has to carry his payload requirements such as food, clothing, water, weapons and ammunition, reconnaissance equipment sufficient for seven days at a stretch. I would like the R&D units to bring down the payload weight of the soldier on patrolling by 50% keeping the calorific value, nutrition, weather protection and fighting ability for enhancing his endurance and survivability.

Health and environment

I have visited command hospital at Chandigarh, where I had the opportunity of interacting with the scientists, Army Medical Corps doctors exploring the therapeutic applications of Aloevera cream along with allopathic remedies for the medical management of cold injuries. I was happy to see the patients who have been benefited by this holistic treatment.

By the deployment of large volume of troops, there is a possibility of environmental concerns regarding its degradation. Damage to Siachen glacier is the damage to water reservoir of the region. It is essential for all of us to maintain and preserve the glacier in its virgin form. Scientists have successfully developed the bio-digesters by identifying suitable microorganisms, which can handle the human waste even at these extreme temperatures. The greening of Ladakh region has also been another successful endeavor of the scientists and the soldiers along with the farmers. We should continue these efforts.

Conclusion

Survival of the Siachen glacier is very important for the nation since it is our water reservoir. I would like the Army to take this up as a mission and keep the glacier ecologically safe, as Army has always done in various units and installations in different sectors for enhancement of ecology. Any deterioration of the glacier will be detrimental to our water resource and ecology.

I would like to share with you a philosophic thought, in this divine Himalayan ambience. I believe God creates every living being with a mission and specific purpose. You are fortunate to have been blessed to be in a position to perform a noble mission of defending the nation as soldiers. When I see you, you all look very smart, you look combat ready and through gracious smile in your faces you look winning.

Maintaining peace in Siachen sector is and will be due to your valour and strength. Your defense capability will pave the way for the nation?s progress. Maintaining peace in our borders has a tremendous impact in progressing the economic development of the nation at a faster pace.

My best wishes to you and your families living in far away places in all your missions.

May God bless you.