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Prime Minister Narendra Modi may soon visit Indian army's forward posts in the Siachen glacier, the highest battlefield in the world, during his tour of Ladakh.
The prime minister is expected to be in Leh and Kargil districts of Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir to dedicate two hydroelectric projects and lay the foundation stone of a electricity transmission line there next week or in the third week of the month.
The prime minister may visit Indian army posts in Siachen in that area during that time, sources said here.
Army sources said Army Chief Gen Dalbir Singh Suhag is also planning to visit the area in second week of the month but his schedule may now be changed in view of the prime minister's programme.
Army posts are located in the Siachen at altitudes ranging from 17,000 feet to 23,000 feet along the Actual Ground Postioning Line with Pakistan.
Pakistan has been seeking the withdrawal of Indian troops from there as a confidence-building measure but this has been opposed by the army and the defence ministry which say the heights are of strategic importance.
The prime minister was invited by the then Army Chief Gen Bikram Singh to visit the Siachen Glacier to boost the morale of the troops and show solidarity with them.
Power Minister Piyush Goyal had on Tuesday stated that "probably next week or the week thereafter, the Prime Minister will visit Leh to dedicate two projects in Leh and Kargil as also lay the foundation stone for an transmission line from Leh to Kargil and on to Srinagar."
Image: Indian army troops at the Siachen glacier
Photo: Reuters