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Army prepares for winter on Kargil peaks

Josy Joseph in New Delhi

Hurried preparations are on in Delhi and in the field to put in place a formidable mechanism to guard the inhospitable peaks of Kargil during winter. Among the improvements expected are better clothing and high-nutrition food for soldiers stationed on these peaks.

The Army headquarters is coordinating several activities at various levels including shopping abroad, plans to stock various items for winter at posts atop these peaks, drastic changes in the food quality and to put in place a more effective weaponry.

Army sources said its aviation branch is drawing up a detailed plan to fly stocks up the hills in winter. With the Army deciding to install permanent posts at most of the peaks, their supply and stocking during winter have become top priority.

Sources said Army aviation will be deploying two squadrons of Cheetah and Chetak helicopters for winter stocking. These two squadrons had participated in Operation Vijay too.

In the post-Kargil period, the Army has made a large number of demands to the defence ministry, including a major upgradation of winter clothing supplied to the soldiers posted at high altitudes. Acceding to the demands, the ministry early this week sent to Europe an empowered delegation led by a senior bureaucrat. The delegation also has Army officers from Kargil-Leh area who have first hand experience of the problems and needs.

Most of the urgently needed items will be purchased on the spot, sources indicated. The Army has already done some study of the items needed and made contacts through the Internet with some private firms in Europe. "But nothing has been finalised," a senior Army officer said.

Urgently required items include high-altitude dresses, night vision equipment, snow boots etc. The officer admitted that the "coming winter" will be a tough one for soldiers in the field. "By next year we hope to have much more sophisticated weaponary in place. We hope at least the Kargil conflict will force the establishment to listen to our demands," he added.

The Army headquarters is also looking at the possibility of improving the diet of soldiers posted at high altitudes. According to sources, the Army is analysing the special diet given to American commandos.

The Pakistan Army's nutritious diet, found in the bunkers vacated by the fleeing intruders, had surprised the Indian field commanders, who have reportedly taken up the matter with Army headquarters. Though a lab run by the Defence Research Development Organisation at Mysore produced specially packed food for high-altitudes, the Army feels that the diet can be improved.

In fact, Indian soldiers were quoted several times by the media as saying that they preferred the high-quality chocolates and cheese the Pakistanis had abandoned at their bunkers. "We are looking at it, there will be definite changes," the officer said.

The Army has strengthened its presence in the area with the deployment of a full division at the Line of Control in Kargil district alone. It has also set up a new corps headquarters, with two divisions under its command, in Leh to coordinate operations in the area and in Siachen.

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