New Delhi: French Minister of the Armed Forces Florence Parly has condoled the death of 20 Indian soldiers near the Line of Actual Control (LAC) along the Sino-Indian border in Galwan Valley in Ladakh.

She conveyed this in a letter written to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, French diplomatic sources said on June 30.

In the letter to Singh, the Minister said that it was “a hard blow against the soldiers, their families and the nation. In these difficult circumstances, I wish to express my steadfast and friendly support, along with that of the French armed forces. I request you to kindly convey my heartfelt condolences to the entire Indian armed forces as well as to the grieving families.”

Indian and Chinese troops have been engaged in a tense standoff along the LAC, especially in Ladakh sector, where both sides have deployed thousands of additional troops.

Defence and strategic ties between India and France have been on an upswing in the last few years. India is likely to receive on July 27 the first batch of six Rafale fighter jets from France. The jets are expected to significantly boost the combat capability of the Indian Air Force.