Siachen: Army to host Antony in May

a problem there and I wanted to understand it from the ground. It is a conflict that

has been going on for a long time, and I was keen to see

it first-hand,” Antony told The Indian Express. At the time, however, the army

had told him it would be too cold to visit.

But this Monday, army’s new Vice Chief Lt Gen Deepak Kapoor met Antony and conveyed to him that they would make all arrangements to host him at Leh, Thoise, Siachen base camp and forward posts in late April or early May when the weather

is more manageable. Army chief Gen JJ Singh will accompany the Minister.

Antony has stuck to the government’s official stand that movement on Siachen can only follow Islamabad’s willingness to unambiguously endorse and authenticate

the ground positions held by Indian troops along the Saltoro Ridge.

The Defence Ministry is also drawing up a schedule of foreign visits for the year, which include possible visits to Israel and the US.

Antony’s predecessor Pranab Mukherjee was to visit Israel last year, but cancelled his visit as a result of the crisis in Lebanon and criticism from allies at home. Mukherjee visited the US in 2005 to sign the landmark defence framework. Considering the level that bilateral defence relations have been elevated to since then, South Block feels it is time for another high-level defence visit to Washington.

But Antony is resolute. “First I will visit all the locations in India. Only then will I consider making foreign visits. My priority is to cover the entire country first and visit all the formations here before considering any visits abroad,” he said.

He will shortly visit the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, followed by Siachen, Jodhpur and other desert units under the Army’s South Western Command.