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WAR ABOVE THE CLOUDS:
SIACHEN GLACIER
AGENDA:INTRODUCTIONHISTORY OF THE CONFLICTSTRATEGIC SIGNIFICANCEPRESENT SITUATIONSOLUTIONCONCLUSION
INTRODUCTION
Siachen: place of wild roses.Located in eastern Karakoram range in
Himalaya mountains. coordinates: 35.421226°N 77.109540°ENortheast to point NJ9842
Length: 76km
Area: 700 km2
Largest in karakoram range
2nd –longest in world’s non-polar areas
Lies between Saltoro ridge and Karakorum range.
Main passes on this ridge (N S) Sia La Bilafond La Gyong La
Average winter snowfall: 1000cm
Temperature: can dip to −50 °C (−58 °F)
Home to rare species: snow leopard brown bear ibex
CONFLICTSimla agreement 1972Both countries claim sovereignty over
barren hights
ZONE OF CONFLICTThe battle zone comprised an inverted
triangle resting on NJ 9842 with Indira Col and the Karakoram pass as the other two extremities
HISTORY OF CONFLICT
1949 Cease-Fire Line Agreement (CFL) signed by both countries
1957-1976 international expeditions
sought Pakistani authorization to visit Siachen's nearby mountain peaks
1967 Siachen Glacier clearly inside Pakistan
Indian gov protested against cartography
Prior to 1984 neither India nor Pakistan had any permanent presence in the area
OPERATION MEGHDOOTCode-name for the Indian Armed Forces
operation to capture the Siachen Glacier
precipitated the Siachen Conflict
Launched on 13 April 1984
Indian interpretation was that Pakistan territory extended only to about the Saltoro Ridge.
Pakistan interpretation was that their territory continued northeast from Point NJ9842 to the Karakoram Pass.
Both nations claimed the barren heights.
PAKISTAN MAJOR ASSAULTS
1987: headed by Brig Gen Pervaiz Mussharaf
managed to capture a few high points before being pushed back
1989:Unsuccessful
Ground positions remained same
WHICH REGION SIACHEN BELONGS
All the international climbing and mountaineering expedition teams to climb K2 and other mountains,including Siachen always got their NoCs from the Pakistani governments.
Siachen has been shown as part of Pakistan in many of international world atlases like UN Defense Mapping Agency (DMA), Historical Atlas of South Asia by Chicago University, Britannica Atlas, National Geographic Society of World Atlas and Times World Atlas.
STRATEGIC
SIGNIFICANCE OF
SIACHEN GLACIER
The Siachen glacier is considered to be the largest single source of fresh water as it is the source of the Nubra River that eventually feeds the mighty Indus.
The Karakoram highway between China and Pakistan is very close to Siachen which enhances its strategic value.
Current northern areas of
Pakistan and K-2.
INDIA’S CLAIM:India’s stance is that the LoC runs from point NJ 9842 along the watersheds formed by the Saltoro ridge that puts the entire Siachen glacier within Indian territory.
PAKISTAN’S CLAIM:Pakistan claims that the line joins point NJ 9842 with the Karakoram pass that lies towards the northeast, putting Siachen within its territory.
PRESENT SITUATION OF THE CONFLICT
The Indian Army controls a few of the top-most heights, holding on to the tactical advantage of high ground, while the Pakistani forces are controlling Baltoro and other glaciers and valleys in immediate West to Saltoro ridgeline.
Presently India holds entire 75 KM of Siachen glacier and commands two of the three passes including the highest motorable pass – Khardungla Pass
Pakistan controls Gyong La pass that overlooks the Shyok and Nubra river Valley and India`s access to Leh district.
Logistically, Pakistan Army holds the advantage since its road-head is only 20 KM away from the farthest post while Siachen is a logistical nightmare for the Indian troops who are stationed about 80 km away from the road-head and their supplies have to be maintained entirely by air.
SOLUTIONS STEPS TOWARDS
RESOLVING THE ISSUE
INDIA’S POSITION ON RESOLVING THE ISSUE
1. India wants Pakistan to 'verifies the map' and remained insistent on accepting ' Actual Ground Position Line' (AGPL) that began from NJ 9842 and ended in the current Indian possessions on Soltaro Range.
2. The Indian position is that both nations should jointly demarcate the current troop positions in the region.
PAKISTAN’S POSITION ON RESOLVING THE ISSUE 1. Pakistan maintained its earlier proposal to
demilitarise the region.
2. . Pakistan agrees that the issue should be
resolved with talks but is strongly against a
demarcation of troop positions.
STEPS TOWARDS RESOLVING THE ISSUE
A year after India took over the glacier in 1984, talks started. After 13 rounds, both sides are now in agreement that the Siachen glacier should be demilitarized as it is very tough to maintain army over there.
Efforts to de-militarize the Glacier in 1989 and in 1992 were set-aside after long rounds of Indo-Pak negotiation. Politicians were– Rajiv Gandhi and Benazir Bhutto
SUGGESTIONS
A number of suggestions have been made on how the problem can be resolved, including
1. Declaring the area a peace park,our last hope.
2. Joint patrolling of the region
3. International peacekeeping force being
deployed in the region.
CONCLUSION
Sending men and material in such an area is a very expensive affair.
On an average India spends about Rs. 4 crore per day for maintaining troops in this hostile area. Pakistan also spends about Rs. 1 crore for the same purpose.
Even in normal circumstances, Indian troops suffer one casualty every second day while Pakistani troops suffer one casualty every fourth day.
Besides there are psychological disorders, frostbite, high altitude pulmonary and cerebral edema and snow blindness.
The tragic incident of 7th April avalanche that hit the HQ of 6NLI battalion of Pakistan Army in Gyari sector of Siachen trapping 139 Pakistani troops and civilians that has traumatized the entire nation.
Meanwhile, up above the clouds, in the icy glacier and peaks, the soldiers continue to suffer and die, if not from bullets then from nature, occasionally looking down in the valley where politicians of South Asia find it hard to give peace a chance.
THANKYOU
