Defence Minister Rajnath Singh Arrives in Leh For Security Review

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh arrived in Leh on Friday on a day-long visit to carry out a comprehensive review of the security scenario in the region in wake of the border row with China.

Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat and Army chief Gen M M Naravane are accompanying Rajnath Singh on the visit.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is set to visit Stakna and Lukung forward areas.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s trip comes days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s surprise visit to Ladakh on July 3. Where he also addressed troops and signalled the country’s determination in dealing with the India-China border row.

Rajnath Singh was originally scheduled to visit Ladakh on July 3 but the trip was delayed.

Rajnath Singh To Visit Ladakh:

Leaving for Leh on a two day visit to Ladakh and Jammu-Kashmir. I shall be visiting the forward areas to review the situation at the borders and also interact with the Armed Forces personnel deployed in the region. Looking forward to it.

— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) July 17, 2020

Indian and Chinese troops were locked in a bitter standoff in multiple areas in the eastern valley of Ladakh for over eight weeks since the 5th of May 2020.

The tension intensified manifold after the brutal clashes in Galwan Valley which took away the lives of 20 Indian Army personnel.

However, following a series of strategic and military talks, the two sides began a bilateral disengagement process on July 6 and both the countries retreated their troops from most of the friction points.