New Delhi, Oct 18 (UNI) Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday visited Andaman and Nicobar command for two days, where she will celebrate Diwali with troops and also meet with their families. The minister was received at INS Utkrosh by Lieutenant Governor of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Admiral (Retd) DK Joshi and Commander-in-Chief Andaman & Nicobar Command Vice Admiral Bimal Verma, the defence ministry said in a statement. On arrival, she was accorded a Joint Services Guard of Honour by the troops of Andaman & Nicobar Command. Subsequently, during her visit to the Headquarters Andaman & Nicobar Command, Ms Sitharaman was given a comprehensive brief on the security environment and thrust areas of the command. Andaman and Nicobar is the only command where all manpower and assets of Navy, Army, IAF and Coast Guard are under one operational commander. The command was established as a unified command in October 2001 as part of the defence reforms undertaken after the 1999 Kargil conflict but has suffered from politico-bureaucratic neglect, turf wars among the services and fund crunches. UNI ASH SDR 1829