Visakhapatnam: Dissmissing suggestions for withdrawal of troops from Siachen, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar today said these were not made after proper analysis and that military presence on the world’s highest battlefield was in consonance with the country’s security needs.
Referring to the demand in some quarters for withdrawal of troops from Siachen in the wake of death of ten soldiers in an avalanche, he said, “I think because of that reason (the death of ten soldiers)…any other suggestion is not a proper analysis.”
“Decision about (deployment of troops in) Siachen is based on the security of the nation….they have to understand its importance, why we are maintaining it (security presence) in spite of hostile conditions…I think you will understand if you go to that place,” he told reporters on the sidelines of an international maritime conference here.
Parrikar said there was “no loose end” which could have resulted in the death of the soldiers. “It was nature’s show of strength and we can’t help it,” he said.
Ten army personnel, including an officer, were buried under snow on Wednesday after their post was hit by an avalanche.
“I am disturbed with any loss, particularly of soldiers, who do it for the nation. Now this particular incident (death of ten soldiers) is absolutely painful to me personally,” he said.
“You can yourself understand that the terrain, geography is such that we lost thousand soldiers to retain control over it though the loss of human lives on Siachen has come down in recent years due to improved facilities,” he said.