Parrikar visits forward positions on LoC

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Saturday visited forward positions on the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district.

Defence spokesman Col. S.D. Goswami of the army's Udhampur-based Northern Command told IANS: "On the second day of his official visit to the state the Raksha Mantri (defence minister) Manohar Parrikar visited the forward areas in the Rajouri Sector.

"The minister was accompanied by the Army chief General Dalbir Singh and Lieutenant General D.S. Hooda, the Northern Army Commander.

"During his visit to the forward posts, the minister was briefed by Lieutenant General K.H. Singh, Corps Commander of the White Knight Corps on the overall security situation and other important issues pertaining to strategy for the coming months.

"He also interacted with the local Commanders and troops deployed in the area who apprised him on the prevailing security dynamics on the Line of Control.

Parrikar also visited the Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine in Riasi district of Jammu region.

He attended an extended Puja session in the shrine.

He had a luncheon interaction with officers at Usman club of 26 Core which comes under the Western Command of the Indian Army.

Parrikar will later leave for Delhi in the evening.

The minister on Friday visited the Siachen Glacier and reviewed the security situation along the line of actual control (LAC) that forms the de facto border between India and China in Jammu and Kashmir.

He also discussed the overall situation in the state with Governor N.N. Vohra and Chief Minister Mufti Muhammad Sayeed in Srinagar.