It's time to resolve Siachen, says Kayani

[Shardul.....the lion]

Pakistan Army Chief calls for peaceful coexistence with India

Calling for demilitarisation of the Siachen glacier for the development of Pakistan and environmental reasons, Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) Ashfaq Parvez Kayani on Wednesday advocated peaceful coexistence with India, adding that the civil and military leaderships of the two countries should discuss ways to resolve the issue.

Interacting with journalists at Skardu after visiting Gayari — the site of the avalanche in Siachen that buried 124 soldiers of the 6 Northern Light Infantry and 11 civilians early on April 7 — General Kayani said Pakistan was not manning those treacherous heights out of choice. “The world knows why we are in Siachen,” referring to the Pakistani narrative that it was India which started this dispute in 1984.

“This conflict should be resolved. How it is done is to be decided by the military and civil leaderships of the two countries,” General Kayani said, pointing out that the issue had been discussed several times. “Sometimes we get close to a resolution but then issues come up.”

Defence budget

Maintaining that peaceful coexistence between the two neighbours was very important, the COAS said the Army understood well the need to bring down the defence budget. “We in the Army understand very well that there should be a very good balance between defence and development because ultimately security does not only mean secure borders but the welfare of the people. We would like to spend less on defence; any country should do the same way.”

Global problem

About the harm caused to the environment by the military occupation of the Siachen glacier, General Kayani conceded the point. “This is the glacier that feeds our rivers, particularly the Indus. We understand that physical deployment of troops will affect our rivers and water management is needed.” In fact, according to him, the effect of militarisation of Siachen on the environment was not just a local issue but a global problem.

Retrieval of bodies

As to how long the Army proposed to continue with the ongoing operations to recover bodies of the men buried under 80 feet of snow, the COAS said that till every man was located. “If we have to take out this mountain, we will do that. It is not time-bound. We are not going to give up on this,” he asserted, pointing out that the highest Pakistani post in Siachen was at a height of 22,300 ft, where the soldiers survive without oxygen and proper heating.

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My question is to leaders from both sides, why they had to wait till some major incidents happen.

 

[NirmalKrish]

This is kayani speaking? though I appreciate the optimistic views, I still feel that there is no way in hell siachen would be demilitarized its such a strategic defence post and the Pakistanis know that. We let our guard down we will lose more of our territory history will repeat itself again.

 

[Joe Shearer]

This is kayani speaking? though I appreciate the optimistic views, I still feel that there is no way in hell siachen would be demilitarized its such a strategic defence post and the Pakistanis know that. We let our guard down we will lose more of our territory history will repeat itself again.

Sadly, there is - and was - nothing strategic about it. It was an extension of the territorial dispute over Kashmir, and a dispute over the line of actual control. There is a useful brief note on the subject for those who are interested.

 

[Tamizhan]

Sadly, there is - and was - nothing strategic about it. It was an extension of the territorial dispute over Kashmir, and a dispute over the line of actual control. There is a useful brief note on the subject for those who are interested.

That is an opinion of one school of thought.

Another school of thought comprising the likes of Vikram Sood, Gen.Raghavan stress on the strategic value of Indian control over Siachen on the ground - that siachen itself may be worthless, but it prevents Pak and China linking up though the Karakoram pass and pose a threat to Ladakh.

 

[NirmalKrish]

That is an opinion of one school of thought.

Another school of thought comprising the likes of Vikram Sood, Gen.Raghavan stress on the strategic value of Indian control over Siachen on the ground - that siachen itself may be worthless, but it prevents Pak and China linking up though the Karakoram pass and pose a threat to Ladakh.

This is the very reason why its such a important strategic post to guard. we have too many issues on the plate as it is already, demilitarisation of the area will surely create more problems rather than resolve them.

 

[Joe Shearer]

That is an opinion of one school of thought.

Another school of thought comprising the likes of Vikram Sood, Gen.Raghavan stress on the strategic value of Indian control over Siachen on the ground - that siachen itself may be worthless, but it prevents Pak and China linking up though the Karakoram pass and pose a threat to Ladakh.

This is the very reason why its such a important strategic post to guard. we have too many issues on the plate as it is already, demilitarisation of the area will surely create more problems rather than resolve them.

Linking up over the Siachen topography? Who in his right mind would think this or do this? Highly trained mountaineers are needed to travel there, or troops acclimatised to that atmosphere. 'Linking up' is not joining two points on a map. Please look at the ground realities there before coming to any conclusion. And please do not take expert views on board without scrutinising the feasibility of what they suggest.

 

[Pakistanisage]

Even though I am very sad for the loss of life of our beloved Soldiers, I like the Idea of our Soldiers sitting at 22,000 feet AMSL because it gives them the opportunity to conduct military exercises at that height. How many Armies in the world can make that claim ?

 

[Tractor]

That is an opinion of one school of thought.

Another school of thought comprising the likes of Vikram Sood, Gen.Raghavan stress on the strategic value of Indian control over Siachen on the ground - that siachen itself may be worthless, but it prevents Pak and China linking up though the Karakoram pass and pose a threat to Ladakh.

Siachen itself may be worthless but it's the longest non-polar glacier,any country is greedy about owning it to make proud feeling.

 

[IndoUS]

The current position put India on a strategic high point, so it would be pretty hard to make the army leave the posts. Specially when the army has warned the government it would be hard to take back a second time.

 

[Joe Shearer]

Even though I am very sad for the loss of life of our beloved Soldiers, I like the Idea of our Soldiers sitting at 22,000 feet AMSL because it gives them the opportunity to conduct military exercises at that height. How many Armies in the world can make that claim ?

Siachen itself may be worthless but it's the longest non-polar glacier,any country is greedy about owning it to make proud feeling.

And the casualty rate on both sides? Casualties due to high altitude, not due to enemy action.

Do you know that around 44,000 tonnes of solid waste have accumulated, right where the ice melts into water and forms the sources of our sub- continental rivers?

Are you sure this is worth it?

 

[Vassnti]

Even though I am very sad for the loss of life of our beloved Soldiers, I like the Idea of our Soldiers sitting at 22,000 feet AMSL because it gives them the opportunity to conduct military exercises at that height. How many Armies in the world can make that claim ?

Spend winter with them then, what serious military advantage is gained from opperating at an altitude where the enemy of both sides are ice wind and cold.
Perhaps a chance for a memorial for too many lives needlesly lost on both sides.

 

[darkinsky]

the environmental hazard is priceless, once it reaches the point of no return it will cause the entire economy to suffer for both the countries for ever

this is an adequate doc for environmental hazard in siachen

 

[Tractor]

And the casualty rate on both sides? Casualties due to high altitude, not due to enemy action.

Do you know that around 44,000 tonnes of solid waste have accumulated, right where the ice melts into water and forms the sources of our sub- continental rivers?

Are you sure this is worth it?

Chinese were taught to be proud of Everest on our border,is Indian taught something like this?

 

[Tamizhan]

Linking up over the Siachen topography? Who in his right mind would think this or do this? Highly trained mountaineers are needed to travel there, or troops acclimatised to that atmosphere. 'Linking up' is not joining two points on a map. Please look at the ground realities there before coming to any conclusion. And please do not take expert views on board without scrutinising the feasibility of what they suggest.

Well its not my opinion. I'm not that qualified. It is the opinion of a former RAW chief and a General who himself commanded Siachen for some time.

 

[third eye]

There is no denying that Siachen should be resolved. The Q is how ?

Both sides have lost lives , pulling out without validating and accepting the GPL would amount to an insult to those who have served , braved the terrain and those who have lost lives in the past. Quite like the Govt releasing terrorists criminals on being blackmailed by xyz with no feelings for those who lost life & limb in capturing them.

I cannot see an option other than acceptance of the GPL by both sides to prevent anothe Kargil / Sichen.

It is unfortunate that it has taken the loss of so many lives for those at the helm to realise this.