Siachen Conflict

Siachen Glacier

Siachen Conflict

Written By Muhammad Hassaan,

Islamabad, Pakistan.

24-July-2012

The Siachen conflict is a military conflict between India and Pakistan over the disputed Siachen Glacier region in Kashmir. A cease-fire went into effect in 2003. The Siachen glacier is the highest battleground on earth, where India and Pakistan have fought occasionally since April 13, 1984.

The conflict began in 1984 with India's operation Meghdoot during which it wrested control of the Siachen Glacier from Pakistan. India has established control over all of the 70 kilometers long Siachen Glacier and all of its tributary glaciers, as well as the three main passes of the Saltoro Ridge immediately west of the glacier - Sia La, Bilafond La, and Gyong La. Pakistan controls the glacial valleys immediately west of the Saltoro Ridge.

Both countries maintain permanent military presence in the region at a height of over 6,000 meters (20,000 ft.). More than 2000 people have died in this hostile territory, mostly due to weather extremes and the natural hazards of mountain warfare.

A Pakistani Brave Soldier at Siachen

Apparently, the Siachen crisis, just like Kashmir, is the result of uncompleted border differentiation between the two nations but expansionist designs of India are the core reason behind this problem. Historically, Siachen belongs to Pakistan; all of it. All the international climbing and mountaineering expedition teams to climb K2 and other mountains, always got their NOCs from the Pakistani governments.

After the initial expedition of Imperial College London in 1957, Austrian and German teams came to Pakistan in 1961, 1962, 1976 and 1978 all got permission from Islamabad to visit the area. Overall, there were 16 major expeditions which went to Siachen and beyond from 1974 to 1981. 11 of these were from Japan, three from Austria, and one each from Britain and the United States. Being international expeditions, these were known to the entire world including India.

This clearly proves that this area belongs to Pakistan and Indian military presence in the area is no more than an act of war and clear aggression which by default legitimates disciplinary actions from Pakistan.

K2

Actually, the entire climbing of the glacier was the first step to capture the entire region where many other important glaciers are also located and doing so would have enabled India to cut Pakistan’s access to China through Karakoram Highways. Indians have cut Pakistani access to Karakoram Pass, already, by occupying Siachen. This is the core strategic reason why Indian does not want to leave the area despite suffering a casualty every second day due to harsh weather conditions and unforgiving territory.

The Indian Army controls a few of the top-most heights, holding on to the tactical advantage of high ground, however with the Pakistani forces in control of Baltoro and other glaciers and valleys in immediate West to Saltoro Ridgeline, Indian access to K2 and other surrounding peaks has been blocked effectively and mountaineering expeditions to these peaks continue to go through with the approval of the Government of Pakistan. The situation is as such that Pakistanis cannot get up to the glacier, while the Indians cannot come down.

Karakoram Highways

The tragic incident of April 7, 2012 avalanche that hit the battalion of Pakistan Army in Giyari sector of Siachen trapping 139 Pakistani troops and civilians has upset the entire nation. Pakistan Army is desperately trying to reach even the last trapped person under the 80 feet high and one square kilometer wide pile of rubble, rock, snow and ice in a rescue operation in an unforgiving weather and constant snow falling at a height of 14000 feet from sea level. The incident was the worst disaster since 1984 when India illegally occupied Siachen glacier and Saltoro Ridge to its southwest.

Giyari Tragedy

After this dreadful tragedy, a very shocking trend emerged in certain media circles within Pakistan, demanding withdrawal of forces from Siachen. Without giving proper knowledge of background of the incident and history of conflict on world’s highest battlefield some self-claimed peace preachers began to tell the Pakistanis that it is time to bring our boys home unilaterally because Siachen glacier is melting due to presence of forces there and this deployment of force is useless. Compromised media elements and political leadership also failed to show solidarity with the defenders of Pakistan immediately after the incident.

In current scenario, Pakistan is not in the position to make any mistake because there is no margin of error. The country is already in state of war against insurgencies and terrorism, corruption, economic meltdown and ideological subversion. Siachen is one of such core issues where country’s strategic interests are at stake and Giyari avalanche has provided the opportunity to the Indian elements within Pakistani media and civil society to push Indian foreign policy agenda.

Chief of Army Staff at Siachen

In present internal security situation, best option for Pakistan is to maintain the status quo on Siachen issue and pursue the settlement of the issue according to the bilateral agreements of 1949 and 1989 for separation of LOC and demilitarization of the glacier. Unilateral withdrawal over this critical battlefield would be suicidal after giving countless ultimate sacrifices by the brave soldiers of Pakistan Army.

Siachen Conflict - The Highest Battleground on Earth