Ruling out any withdrawal of troops from the worlds’ highest battlefield in Siachen Army commander of Udhampur-based Northern command headquarters lt-General DS Hooda on Friday maintained unless Indian position on ground is ‘authenticated’ withdrawal of troops as proposed by Pakistan in the wake of recent avalanche tragedy cannot happen on ground zero.
Addressing a Press conference after the investiture ceremony where gallant officers and ‘veer naris’ were decorated by the Army officer lt-Gen DS Hooda told reporters, “I see no reason at all to connect this tragedy to any withdrawal from the Siachen glacier and this thing is clear to us. In the same vein he added, “We are committed to defending our borders and we will continue to do that at the worlds’ highest battle field.
Asked if there was any difference between the Central Government and the Army over the withdrawal of troops, lt Gen Hooda said, “There is one stand of the Army and the Government. It is not that the Government has a different stand and we have a different stand.”
On Thursday Pak High Commissioner Abdul Basit had made a statement saying “These tragedies only reinforce the need to resolve the issue... urgently and through peaceful means, through dialogue”.
Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Shariff had earlier proposed to withdraw troops from Siachen during his address at the UN General Assembly session last year.
In response lt-Gen DS Hooda made it clear “Our stand in this context is very clear that if we have to begin talks for withdrawal, our actual position on ground…where Indian Army is positioned, should be authenticated first and that should be agreeable to both the sides”.
“That first step is not being taken and therefore any agreement on withdrawal is not being agreed, “ lt-Gen Hooda clarified.
On February 3, ten Army personnel were buried under 35 feet snow wall at a forward post in Northern Siachen glacier at a height of 20,000 feet.
After six days of relentless rescue operations lance Naik Hanamanthappa Koppad was miraculously extricated by the rescue team but he too could not survive despite receiving best medical care at Army Research and Referral hospital in New Delhi.
His last rites were performed with full military honours in his native village in Dharwad district of Karnataka on Friday.
Meanwhile, commenting on the shifting of dead bodies of nine soldiers who were buried alive in the avalanche lt-Gen Hooda said the bodies of the nine troopers have been shifted from the avalanche site to a helipad on the glacier. However, it has been snowing there since then, he said, adding that “even if we get an hour break, we will immediately send helicopters to pull them out”. “We are in touch with families and all arrangements have been made to get them to Delhi and then to their respective places onward,” he said, adding “unfortunately weather has not cleared up”.
Sharing his assessment on the entry of youth in the ranks of militant organisations in Kashmir valley lt Gen Hooda said, “recruitment is an area of concern for us. It is not good that young recruits, who were supposed to be the future of the State and who were supposed to be the leaders of tomorrow, are actually joining militancy”.
Pointing out that their life span is six months to one year from the time of their joining militancy, the Army commander said “it is a tragedy and we all need to look at it”.
“From our side, we are committed as we have said that who have recently joined militancy and want to return and who have not committed any heinous crime, we will help them in rehabilitation…in their education…and in any other respect. But our concern is leave the gun and come back,” he added.
On the occasion gallantry and distinguished service awards were presented to thirty eight officers and other ranks at Udhampur.
The Army Commander presented nineteen Sena Medal (Gallantry) including three Sena Medal (Posthumous), ten Sena Medal (Distinguished Service) and nine Vishisht Seva Medals. The General officer also presented GOC-in-C Unit Appreciation to twenty nine Units for their outstanding performance in the year 2015. A total of fifteen civilians were also felicitated for their outstanding assistance rendered to the Army.