He commended the dedication and sacrifice of the soldiers posted at the borders, bravely protecting the sovereignty, unity and integrity of the country. Defence spokesman Lt. Col. Manish Shrivastava said that the Defence Minister, accompanied by Army chief Gen Manoj Pande earlier on Thursday visited Anini village in Dibang valley of Arunachal Pradesh.

Mr Rajnath Singh made an on-the-ground assessment of defence preparedness along the Line of Actual Control by taking stock of the entire gamut of security-related aspects. As part of the day’s engagements, he also interacted with the members of a second religious expedition to AthuPopu, an annual trek of local Idu Mishmi tribe which has been facilitated by Indian Army since 2021 as part of outreach and continued efforts towards supporting the locals and development of tourism.

Another Defence spokesman Lt. Col. A. S. Walia said that Minister Singh complimented the soldiers for high standards of professionalism and dedication towards duty while safeguarding the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the nation braving the harsh weather conditions and inhospitable terrain.

The Defence Minister was briefed on the operational situation and preparedness of the Army by Lt General D.S. Rana, General Officer Commanding, Gajraj Corps. Eastern Command chief, Lt General R.P. Kalita, along with other senior officers, also accompanied the Defence Minister.