American experts arrive in Pakistan to assist in rescue operation

American experts arrived in Pakistan to assist in search and rescue operation in the world’s highest battleground of Siachen glacier where 135 people trapped in an avalanche.

ISPR (Inter Service Public Relations) issued a press note late on Sunday saying, “An eight-member team of US experts have arrived in Islamabad to provide technical assistance in the rescue operation”.

The statement further stated that discussion will be held with the US team to find out possibilities and nature of assistance required to expedite the rescue operation. It added that technical assistance from other friendly countries is also being considered.

The US, earlier, had made an offer to help Pakistan in rescue operation in Gayatri sector of Siachen glacier where around hundreds of military troops and civilians have been working to search for survivors.

The rescuers are struggling to dig through some 25 meters of snow, boulders, mud and slush that buried the rear headquarters building in the area.

According to some media reports there was no sign of any survivors so far and also no dead bodies had been found up till now.

A report quoting security official observed, ““It’s a very hard terrain and the rescue operation is very difficult but the army jawans and civilian rescue workers are trying their best to make headway and make their job done”.

Earlier, a separate statement issued by the ISPR informing about the visit of Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani in the affected area.

It said, “The COAS was accompanied by Corps Commander Lieutenant General Khalid Nawaz Khan”. At the occasion, Major General Ikramul Haq, FCNA commander briefed the army chief about the details of rescue efforts.

Kayani while speaking to rescue officials said an avalanche of such a magnitude was unprecedented in last 20 years of this Battalion Headquarters existence at Gayatri.

Appreciating the morale and efforts of troops who are braving the harsh weather and inhospitable terrain, he said the army had mobilized all available resources with the assistance of the PAF to carry out full scale rescue operation.

He also instructed the commanders to optimally utilize all available resources at their disposal and leave no stone unturned to reach out to the entrapped personnel.

Emphasizing that calamity in no way should affect the morale of the troops defending the motherland at the highest battlefield, he observed, “Efforts are underway to acquire latest technical equipment for the rescue”.

The headquarters in Gayatri sector, which is situated at the height of around 15,000 feet, is the main gateway through which the army sends its troops and supplies to other remote posts in the Siachen.

Short URL: https://www.newspakistan.pk/?p=18354

Posted by Faisal Farooq on Apr 9 2012. Filed under Latest News, National, Pakistan, USA. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.