Army chief pays tributes to Kargil War martyrs

Indian Army chief General Bikram Singh Friday paid tributes to the martyrs of 1999 Kargil War in Jammu and Kashmir's Ladakh region on the occasion of 15th Vijay Diwas.

He said the army is alert and has been deployed effectively on the borders to defend the integrity and the sovereignty of the country.

"Let me assure you, the army is deployed on the borders to defend the integrity and the sovereignty of the country," General Singh told reporters after the wreath laying ceremony at the Kargil War Memorial in Drass town of Kargil district.

The chief of the Indian Army said ceasefire violations by Pakistan have been taking place regularly on the Line of Control (LoC) in the state, but assured that the army has been effectively responding to those violations.

"They violate the ceasefire every week and every month, but the army has been taking effective steps to respond to those," he said.

General Singh, who is retiring July 31, said the central government is committed to fulfil the aspirations of the army.

On being asked why the army's veterans who had participated in the Kargil conflict in 1999 were absent at the function, the chief said: "These invitations go out from formation commanders and not from the army headquarters."

"You can ask formation commanders about this, but let me assure you that everyone of those who fought the war here in 1999 is proud of the soldiers who laid down their lives in the service of the country."

Every year July 26 the Indian Army observes Vijay Divas to commemorate the sacrifices of its soldiers and also celebrate the victory during the 60-day long Kargil War.

The army's Northern Command chief, Lt. General D.S. Hooda and other senior officers were also present at the event.