NEW DELHI: After travelling to world’s highest battlefield, Siachen and forward locations on the Line of Control with Pakistan, newly appointed defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman will not travel to eastern border sharing with China. According to office of Sitharaman, she has plans to visit to Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh on October 7 and 8 and expected to visit forward posts.
Defence minister’s visit to Sikkim becomes significant Indian and Chinese troops had more than two months of stand-off on the Dokalam tri-junction on India, China and Bhutan. And only after a week before the BRICS summit, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi had visit China, both forces decided to disengage on September 28.
About 350 troops were deployed by India at the face-off site and a similar number of Chinese soldiers were camping in the area since June 16 after Indian troops stopped the Chinese soldiers from building a road in the disputed area.
“Defence minister is scheduled to visit to border states of Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh, where she will take stock on the prevailing security situation , especially after the Dokalam face-off. During the visit, she will be briefed by top commanders of the Eastern command on the defence preparedness,” said an official.
Before, Sikkim and Arunachal, Sitharaman will be travelling to day long visit to Gandhi Nagar in Gujarat, where she will review the coastal security.
Country’s first full time woman defence minister has already made several trips to forward locations and military stations ever since she has taken over her office.