Kashmiri kids off to Kanyakumari, courtesy Army

"The children, 11 to 14 years of age, had probably never seen a train or ship, and could only dream or watch on TV what the rest of their country looks like. This tour will enable them see and understand their beautiful nation better," Colonel Sukhbir Singh, Commanding Officer of 525 Army Service Corps (ASC) battalion, which is conducting the tour, told newsmen.

"The image of our Army and civil administration will get a fillip and set a chain reaction of goodwill. The amicable relations between the Army and local population will help favourably in our role in counter insurgency as the support of locals is necessary to combat terrorism," Singh said.

The team would visit important places in the Capital including Rashtrapati Bhawan, Qutab Minar and Jama Masjid; film studios and beaches in Mumbai, Elephanta Caves, National Defence Academy at Pune and Vivekananda Rock Memorial at Kanyakumari, Major Arun Malhotra, who is accompanying the children, said.