Jammu, Oct 6 (IANS): The Indian Army and the Indian Postal Department have issued a commemorative special cover on the Siachen glacier in Jammu and Kashmir, the army said here Thursday.

The special cover on Siachen glacier, said to be the highest battleground in the world, was released Tuesday at a function organised at the Siachen base camp in the Ladakh region, according to a spokesman of the Northern Command of the Indian Army here.

"The history of the Carried Postal Cover dates back to ancient times when letters/messages were sent through pigeons, parrots and slowly graduating to elephants, camels and horsemen. This was probably the first time in the world a cover was released at such altitude as the Siachen glacier. The covers were carried by helicopter from Leh to the Siachen base camp," the spokesman said.

He said the cover on Siachen was released by Lt Gen K.T. Parnaik, general officer commanding-in-chief, Northern Command, and John Samuel, chief post master general (CPMG), Jammu and Kashmir circle, at the Siachen base camp.