After Ladakh, PM Modi visits President Kovind to brief on national issues

New Delhi : Two days after PM Narendra Modi paid a surprise visit to Ladakh, where he spent one full day with the troops stationed at Nimu, he paid a visit to President Ram Nath Kovind to brief him on "issues of national and international importance."

The meeting with President comes days after he held meeting with the soldiers injured in the violent face-off with Chinese troops at Galwan Valley on June 15.

During his visit, the first from the executive leadership since the standoff began in early May, PM Modi, in a strong message to China, said the “era of expansionism is over” and “history is witness that such forces have been wiped out, or have been forced to turn around”.

He also said said the “enemies of India have seen the fire and fury of our forces”, and warned that “India’s commitment to peace should not be seen as its weakness”.

The stand-off between Indian and Chinese troops started a month back when Indian soldiers were stopped from doing regular patrolling from Finger 4 to Finger 8.

The Army is preparing for the long haul with the standoff expected to continue well into the winter. The Army will take a decision within the next six weeks on the number of troops that can be supported logistically in the remote area during the winter months by the military supply chain.