|
President interacts with soldiers on LoC |
 |
Soldiers posted on the Line of Control (LoC) that divides Jammu and Kashmir between India and Pakistan got a pat on the back on May 23 from President Pratibha Patil who also visited a bunker for a firsthand look at their living conditions.
Patil, who arrived in Srinagar on May 23 morning for a four-day visit to the Kashmir Valley, visited an Indian Army post at 9,600 ft on the LoC in the Tangdhar sector.
The supreme commander of the armed forces patted the soldiers guarding the country's borders. After visiting a bunker, the President also assured the troops of better facilities.
She was shown the arms and ammunition recovered from guerillas in the sector.
"The country is proud of all of you. We are fully aware of the extremely difficult conditions under which you discharge your duties. I am sure the country's borders are safe in your hands," she later told officers and soldiers at the brigade headquarters of the Army's 19th Infantry Division in Baramula town, 56 km from Srinagar.
The President also joined officers and soldiers at a ceremonial lunch.
Patil was received by Governor Lt Gen (retd) S.K. Sinha, Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, Cabinet Ministers and senior civil and military officials.
She was accompanied by Union Water Resources Minister Saifuddin Soz, Defence Secretary Vijay Singh and the Army Chief, Gen. Deepak Kapoor.
|
