Leh, June 27 (IANS) Chief of Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi on Saturday visited the headquarters of the Leh-based Fire and Fury Corps and reviewed the operational preparedness in the Ladakh region.

The Additional Director General of Public Information (ADG PI) of the Army said on X today: “General Upendra Dwivedi, COAS, visited HQ Fire and Fury Corps and reviewed its operational preparedness, combat readiness and capability development in Ladakh.”

“The COAS was briefed on the prevailing security situation, operational preparedness, infrastructure development and ongoing initiatives to enhance surveillance, mobility and integrated operational capabilities.”

“During the visit, the COAS commended all ranks of the Corps for their exceptional professionalism, unwavering dedication and steadfast commitment while operating in one of the world’s most challenging terrains. He exhorted them to remain mission-focused, operationally agile and ever prepared to meet emerging security challenges.”

The XIV Corps, or the Fire and Fury Corps, is a corps of the Indian Army. It is part of the Army’s Udhampur-based Northern Command. The 14th Corps is deployed in the Kargil-Leh area, guarding the frontiers with China and Pakistan.

It also guards the Siachen Glacier. The 3rd Division was established in 1962 during the Sino-Indian War from elements of HQ Nagaland and remained an Eastern Command reserve, even though it almost always served on counter-insurgency (CI) duty.

After nearly 30 years in the East, the division left the area about two decades ago for Ladakh and has never returned.

While on CI duty, the division was pulled out and sent to fight suspected Pakistani infiltrators in the Matayan-Dras sectors. Afterwards, when HQ XIV Corps was raised, it took over the 3rd and 8th Divisions.

During the Kargil War, it consisted of the 56th Mountain Brigade, usually stationed at Matayan; the 79th Mountain Brigade, usually stationed at Drass; and the 192nd Mountain Brigade. The Changthang Prahar Exercise, an integrated exercise involving all arms in a super-high-altitude area, was conducted in September 2019.

During the Sino-Indian Border Dispute, the XIV Corps engaged in discussions with Chinese division commanders regarding the Depsang bulge standoff in eastern Ladakh.

Despite multiple diplomatic talks and Corps Commander-level negotiations, Chinese troops obstructed access to critical patrolling points, prompting the Indian Army to prepare for a prolonged presence, including winter stocking of troops along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

–IANS

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