The army's northern commander, who reached Leh on September 27, praised the high morale and steadfast commitment of the deployed troops

"Lt Gen Pratik Sharma visited Siachen Brigade, Units deployed in Eastern Ladakh and the Karakoram Pass to review operational preparedness, praising the high morale and steadfast commitment of all ranks," army's northern command said in a post on X late Monday night

It said the commander interacted with National Flag Quiz winners at Siachen Base Camp, appreciating their national spirit and dedication

He also flagged a mountaineering expedition to a very challenging peak over 7000 metres at Siachen Base Camp, commending them for their indomitable spirit and setting a new benchmark in mountaineering, the army said

On September 27, Lt Gen Sharma called on Ladakh Lt Governor Kavinder Gupta and discussed the current situation in violence-hit Leh town

The meeting focused on the overall security scenario, emerging challenges in the region, and the need for enhanced coordination between civil administration and the armed forces to maintain peace and stability, emphasising the importance of preparedness and synergy in addressing any contingency, a Raj Bhavan spokesperson had said