Siachen Glacier Base Camp: Making the first Presidential visit to the world's highest battlefield Siachen Glacier, calling it "the most important one", A P J Abdul Kalam today (Apr 2, 2004) told soldiers posted at the icy heights that the survival of the glacier was most crucial for the country.

Kalam, who is also the supreme commander of the armed forces, spoke at length about the dangers of environmental degradation of the 72-kms long glacier due to human presence.

Describing the glacier as one of the water arteries of the country, he commended the efforts of soldiers in defending such inhospitable heights and urged them to keep the glacier ecology clean, as otherwise any imbalance created could be catastrophic not only for the country, but for the region as whole.

The President said he would like the Army to take up clean ecology mission in right earnest. On arrival at Thoise advanced landing ground, Kalam and his entourage was given a warm welcome in near freezing temperatures from top Army and civil brass.

From Thoise, he flew in a helicopter to the base camp situated at a height of over 18,000 feet, where he addressed officers and jawans.

"For me it is the most important discussion that I am having with you," Kalam told the troops in his address, saying that though there were only a few of them at the base camp, he was sure that his words would reach the entire 102 Brigade formation guarding the Siachen Glacier.

Earlier, bad weather over Siachen Glacier delayed the President's flight. The VVIP Boeing 737 of the IAF's Communication Squadron, carrying Kalam and his entourage, was held back at the Palam Technical area, as bad weather was reported over Thoise advanced landing ground, near the Siachen Base Camp and en route over 4,500 metre high Khardung la and other passes.

However, the flight took off about 40 minutes late at 8.00 hrs (IST) and the President arrived at Thoise air base to a warm welcome by senior Army, IAF and civil officers, including Army Chief Gen N C Vij, Northern Army Commander Lt Gen Hari Prasad and Corp Commander Lt Gen Arvind Sharma.