Date:20/09/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/09/20/stories/2007092055641400.htm

National

Antony: Siachen trek not for the first time

Special Correspondent

This is the first time it is getting so much publicity
Expedition not beyond Siachen valley

NEW DELHI: Reacting to reports about the Army taking civilians for a trek to the Siachen Glacier, Defence Minister A. K. Antony on Wednesday said such visits had been taking place for some time now.

“For the first time such an expedition is getting so much publicity. It has happened 15 times. In July itself three expeditions went there but no one reported [them]. That is the problem. Of late, you [the media] have started recognising [this activity]. They are going to Indian territory. In this expedition, the special feature is that all the participants are Indians,” he told newspersons.

Other Government officials felt the Army briefing earlier had been injudicious with the choice of words while seeking to give wide publicity to the trek.

The expedition would not be going far beyond the Siachen valley and generally trek at an altitude of 16,000 feet.

There will be no attempt to come close to the ridge line close to Pakistan.