siachen -- the geopolitics and strategy in the frozen battlefield
DESCRIPTION
The exclusive history, analysis and review of the war in the Karakorum Ranges between Pakistan and India. These are facts world do not know and now the time has come to initiate a serious debate into the criminal role of the Indian foreign policy and its hegemonic designs in the region.TRANSCRIPT
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Siachen:The Geopolitics and Strategy in Frozen
Battlefield
By Shahzad Masood Roomi
Aftermath of Gyari Tragedy:
The tragic incident of 7th
April avalanche that hit the battalion HQ of 6NLI battalion of Pakistan
Army in Gyari sector of Siachen trapping 139 Pakistani troops and civilians has traumatized the
entire nation. Pakistan Army is desperately trying to reach the trapped persons 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 catastrophe since 1984 when India illegally occupied Siachen glacier and
Saltoro ridge to its southwest.
After this dreadful tragedy, a very shocking and sordid trend emerged in certain media circles
within Pakistan, like SAFMA, demanding withdrawal of forces from Siachen. On 9th
April 2012,
two days after the awful tragedy, SAFMA head Imtiaz Alam stated,
―Why should we be going for an agreement? We should just withdraw. If we do that, Indian
domestic pressure will also result in a withdrawal there. They will say it is madness to
continue.‖[11]
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Without giving proper knowledge of background of the incident and history of conflict on world‟s
highest battlefield these 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 futile.
Apart from the compromised media elements, the political leadership also failed to show
solidarity with the defenders of Pakistan immediately after the incident. The entire nation is on
the brink of complete internal chaos and Pakistan Army has been caught in a ruthless and cut-
throat battle against the religious and secular terrorists and separatists in ongoing massive 4GW
and needs the backing and support of every nook and corner of the country. But unfortunately, the
regime in Islamabad remained busy in its survival exercise in Supreme Court isolating itself from
every important national security and governance issue like the awful tragedy at Gyari sector.
President of Pakistan failed to cancel or even postpone his private trip to India, the country which
had put Pakistani troops in this treacherous battlefield in the first place. Parliament is keen to
investigate the incident rather than doing anything for the families of heroes of Pakistan Army
who gave the ultimate sacrifice. But most disgusting remarks came from the leader of Pakistan‟s
second biggest political party PML(N) and former PM Nawaz Sharif who, just like SAFMA,
asked Pakistan army to withdraw from the battlefront unilaterally as the solution while the enemy
has already 1000 square miles (2600 square kilometer) of Pakistani territory under the occupation
of enemy who has plans to capture more in order to complete the strategic goal of cutting off
Pakistan from China.
For years, Indians have demanded that Pakistan accept the current deployment of forces along the
ridgeline (known as Actual Ground Position Line or AGPL) of Saltoro range as permanent border
which means accepting the illegal occupation of the glacier by the Indian Army. In this backdrop,
the proposal of withdrawing unilaterally is not only completely delusional but is impossible to act
upon due to the strategic importance of the region and Indian expansionist designs which turned
this glacier into the battlefield. A detailed historical and strategic analysis of Indian policymaking
regarding this subtle and critical issue is necessary to understand that why Pakistan cannot
withdraw from the glacier in unilateral fashion.
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Pakistan Army patrolling party
There is number of reasons, from financial to environmental, for both the countries to withdraw
from this front, even in the presence of core issue of Kashmir. 1989 agreement between both the
sides demands the relocation of forces to the positions away from the glacier but not unilaterally.
So, anyone who is advising this as solution is either too naïve to understand the gravity of the
situation or is deliberately part of something more sinister against Pakistan and its core strategic
interests.
History of conflict:
Ostensibly, the Siachen crisis, just like Kashmir, is the result of uncompleted border demarcation
between the two nations but expansionist designs of India are the core reason behind this
problem. This is why India is reluctant to implement the 1989 agreement. 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
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more than an act of war and overt aggression which by default legitimates retaliatory actions from
Pakistan.
K-2 , A diamond of ice - An ultimate challenge for world mountaineers
Apart from this, 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.
The root of Pakistani claim, apart from afore mentioned published maps by international bodies,
stems from the Karachi Agreement, signed under UN auspices, in 1949 which states that from the
last demarcated point, Khor (Grid Reference NJ9842), the line would run „thence North to the
glaciers‟ [2] and this is what all international publishers (including Indian) did. They extended the
line towards North which connects NJ9842 to Karakoram Pass.
Sir Oven Dixon was appointed as first UN observer over Kashmir between Pakistan and India. He
mentioned Siachen as part of Pakistan‟s Northern Areas (current Gilgat-Batistan) and it was
further endorsed by the Indian writer P.L. Lakhanpal in his book “Essential Documents and Notes
on the Kashmir Dispute”. Indian defense analyst Ravi Rikhye in his work “The Fourth round:
Indo-Pak war” included many maps of LoC and according to these maps Siachen is Pakistani
territory. Lt. Gen K.P. Candeth, retired from Indian army in 1984, he wrote his book “The
Western Front: Indo Pakistan war 1971”. The maps included in his book also showed NJ-9842
and Siachen as part of Pakistan.
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The Indian claim is that the line should follow the ridgeline of the Saltoro Range which actually
runs in a North Westerly direction instead of going to North as stated in 1949 Karachi Agreement.
Indians claimed that this is universally applicable watershed principle for settling border disputes.
But this should have been mentioned in the agreement between the two parties which was not
there in Karachi agreement or even in the 1989 agreement hence Pakistan has legitimate claim
over the Siachen glacier and Saltoro Range.
Now, looking at the map of the LoC and Siachen and extending the line towards North, as stated
in the 1949 agreement, clearly suggests that not only the glacier but also the two heighest passes
(Sia La, Bilafond La) belongs to Pakistan. The battle zone comprised an inverted triangle resting
on NJ 9842 with Indira Col and the Karakoram pass as the other two extremities.
The Conflict Zone
Indian Occupation of Siachen:
There is a general perception that it was April 1984 when Indians launched the Operation
Megdhoot and captured three important passes in impassable Saltoro range at height of more than
18,000 feet from sea level. But in reality Indian Army began planning, way back in 1978, to
capture the passes connecting Siachen glacier to Pakistan‟s Gilgal-Baltistan areas and capture the
KKH to sever Pakistan‟s road links to China.
Gilgat-
Baltistan
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Lt. Gen. M. L. Chibber, under whose command Operation Meghdoot was launched, confessed in
his article “Siachen – An Untold Story. A personal account” published in Indian Defense Weekly
Jan 1990 that it was 1978 when Indian army‟s Western Command started planning of this
operation. In his own words, general was worried that US tourism department map showed
Siachen as part of Pakistan.
―In 1978, when I was DMO, we got information about a foreign expedition from the Pakistan side
visiting the Siachen Glacier. The Line of Control terminates at NJ9842. The Glaciers are not
demarcated. We sent a patrol next year and it was confirmed that Japanese expeditions has
visited the Siachen Glacier. So routine patrolling started.
This should give the readers a real background of what happened in 1982-83. It will show that
India did not act unilaterally.‖ [3]
Here the former commander of Northern Command of Indian Army didn‟t bother to mention the
reasons that why Indian Army never raised the issue with Pakistani Army or government
regarding the mountaineering expeditions going to Siachen from Pakistani side prior to 1984? As
explained earlier that such mountaineering expeditions had been going to the region since late
1950‟s and foreign teams were reaching Pakistan on international visas and there were no signs of
any kind of discomfort from Indian side. This patent fact torpedoes the entire rationale of illegal
Indian occupation but it must not be surprising for Pakistanis as nothing else can be expected
from the Indian Army and policymakers who has been trained with Chankiya‟s Earth-Shaster as
primer strategic military and political guide.
Korakaram Highway – the ultimate Indian Army objective
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In another account Gen. Chibber gave the following details of Indian rationale for occupying the
Siachen.
―The problem precipitated on 21st August 1983 when a protest note from Northern Sector
Commander of Pakistan was handed over to his counterpart in Kargil stating that Line of Control
joins with the Karakoram Pass, also that all the area West of this extended line belongs to
Pakistan. When Army Headquarters saw this and also got information that Pakistan troops had
occupied Bilafond Pass, they ordered Northern Command to prevent the occupation of the
Glacier area by Pakistan during the mountaineering season in 1984.‖ [4]
Again, he didn‟t bother to tell why the protest from Pakistani side was launched in the first place?
Reality is that a protest was launched when a SSG Company, during a routine reconnaissance
mission, discovered the presence of a camp of Ladakh Scouts on Bilafonda La pass, in 1983. This
exposes the lies of former chief of Indian Army‟s Northern Command that Pakistan army
occupied the pass. Had Pakistan Army captured the pass in 1983, as claimed by LM Chibber,
Indians would have never been able to put their feet on the glacier.
Col. Narendra Kumar “bull” is credited by India for the “historic victory” over Saltoro ridgeline
in Operation Maghdoot during April 1984. Actually he was the one who initiated the war on the
glacier and turned it into the world‟s highest battlefield. The accounts of his patrols, since 1978 to
1983, are more revealing about Indian aggression and illegal occupation.
―We found labels from tin cans and cigarette packs with Pakistani names, German and Japanese
equipment. It was this that convinced the government of India that Pakistan was going where it
should not have been.‖ [5]
No such evidence was ever shown to anybody in the world. What Kumar found on the glacier was
normal garbage stuff which any mountaineering team would leave behind. But more interestingly,
he never found a human on the Siachen which actually is enough to destroy the entire Indian
propaganda that it was Pakistan Army who militarized the glacier.
―There wasn‘t a soul there. There was so much to climb—so many uncharted high peaks! And
those pinnacles—rock pinnacles going straight up! And small glacial streams—so blue and so
cold! The view from Sia Kangri looking down on the Siachen was such a beautiful sight. Just like
a great white snake… going, going, going. I have never seen anything so white and so wide.‖ [6]
Actually, this 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 KKH. 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 terrain.
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Indira Gandhi with Lt. Gen LM Chibber and Indian Air Chief in Laddakh , 1983
Furthermore, it remains an interesting “coincident” in the history that during 1981-82 Indian sent
teams to Antarctica to study the arctic weather there. Interestingly, other than Siachen glacier
there is no arctic region controlled and occupied by India but still Prime Minister Indira Gandhi
took a personal interest in the expedition, calling it the ''fulfillment of a lifelong dream.'' [7]
Pakistani response:
Pakistan Army and ISI were busy in thwarting Soviet onslaught on Afghanistan in order to secure
the Western front, so Indian aggression on Siachen remained unnoticed for first three to four year.
It was only in 1982 When Pakistan Army realized that Indians are not only moving in but are also
consolidating their military infrastructure on the glacier in order to move further towards North
and Northwest in order to cut KKH and entire GB. Pakistan sent first military team on a
reconnaissance mission in the area in 1983.
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General (retired) Jahandad Khan, of Pakistan Army, has noted, in his accounts, about the first
visit by SSG to the Bilafond La pass in 1983, 5 years after Indian Army Col. Kumar began his
illegal patrols in the Pakistani areas to survey the area for later assault by Indian Army brigade in
1984.
―When the SSG company got across Bilafond Pass (in 1983), the helicopter pilot reported an
Indian location one thousand yards ahead in the Siachen Area. After seeing our helicopter, the
Indian troops, comprising Ladakh Scouts, left their location in a great hurry abandoning all their
rations and tentage. The SSG Company stayed in this area for ten days but was ordered to
withdraw in the first week of September 1983 as it had started snowing and the company did not
have equipment for survival in the winter season under thirty to forty feet of snow, which is the
normal snow range.‖
Former chairman of PoF Wah Lt. Gen (retired) Abdul Qayyum was one of the members of this
trip as well. He recalls his visit to the area in 1983 in following words.
―When in early 1980, then DMO Brigadier (promoted to General later) Ghulam M Malik,
Commander SSG Brig. T.M. Shaheed and me landed on Siachen glacier via helicopter we
witnessed an abandoned camp of Ladakh Scouts. We found an official paper which confirmed that
the officer of Ladakh scouts was a major of Indian Army. He brought a mountaineer expedition
with him but after our arrival they left the camp.‖ [8]
Indians claim that Operation Maghdoot was pre-empted to prevent the planned Pakistani
occupation of the area but events transpired after 1984 further exposed that Indian designs were
not limited to Siachen glacier but their real aim was (and still remains) to cut Pakistan‟s road link
to China through Khunjrab pass in Karakoram Range.
General (retired) Jahandad Khan has accounted that the real intelligence received by Pakistan
Army was about Indian plans to capture the Baltoro ridgeline and glacier (second largest after
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Siachen with 64 KM length) occupying the region where K2 and other high KaraKoram peaks are
located.
The frozen battlefield
This was also endorsed by the massive Indian attack, in 1989, to capture Chumik glacier to push
Pakistani troops towards further Southwest. Due to timely response and unthinkable bravery of
Captain Naveed (later promoted to Major) and sheer professionalism of Pakistan army aviation,
Indian plans were thwarted and Pakistan Army secured the Chumik peak and established Naveed
Post there. Later both the parties agreed to demilitarize the peak.
Pakistan Army Jawans – Carrying artillery shells in their backpacks, 1987
Pakistan army did make some daring attempts to dislodge the Indian occupying forces from the
Bilafond La pass and the glacier. Attacks of 1987 and 1995 were significant. But Saltoro Range
has proved to be the biggest challenge as this steep wall of ice, at some point, has 90 degree slop
to climb for Pakistan Army before they could engage Indian forces entrenched on the peak tops.
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Harsh weather conditions also proved murderous for the advancing parties resultantly no
significant change in position of both the armies occurred.
The Conflict - Present scenario:
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. Presently India holds entire 75
KM of Siachen glacier and commands two of the three passes including the highest motorable
pass – Khardungla Pass.
Pakistan Artillery in action – Making the lives of Indians more miserable!
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, which is not only cost prohibitive but also risky because of the adverse weather
conditions most of the times. [9]
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Siachen – Logistical nightmare of Indian Army
Apart from each other and an impassable terrain, snow-bound disease and weather conditions are
the worst enemies for both the armies in this region. HAPE (High-Altitude Pulmonary Edema)
and HACE (High-Altitude Cerebral Edema) have been proved ultimate killers above 18,000 feet.
HAPE is a swift assassin. One can be dead within matter of hours suffering from HAPE which is
an accumulation of fluid in the lungs. HACE doesn‟t kill immediately but anyone suffering from
it experience severe swelling, headaches, hallucinations, and dementia due to leaks of fluid from
oxygen-starved blood vessels in the brain, Untreated, HACE can kill a man within 24 hours.
Needless to say, these high altitude assassins are excruciatingly painful. [10]
Saltoro Range – Killer heights
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Strategic Dynamics!
Can Pakistan risk this strategic region for the sake of peace appeals by some Indian apologists in
Pakistan? This is the core question and the only answer to that question is „Never!‟ Understanding
the multipronged Indian strategy towards Pakistan is essential in order to comprehend the above
answer. Right now, India is waging a covert war within Pakistan on following axis.
1. Supporting TTP and BLA, from Afghanistan, in order to thin-out Pakistan Army in an
endless war against terrorism.
2. Economic intimidation of Pakistan and to destroy Pakistan's food supply chain, through
water aggression is relatively new but most ruthless move in this hushed war by India.
3. Backing and supporting the sub-nationalists and the separatist elements in Baluchsitan and
Sindh.
4. Ideological subversion and information warfare. Psy-ops to spread despondency and
provincial disharmony.
5. Military buildup across the Eastern border under the Pakistan specific Cold Start Doctrine
(CSD).
6. Coercive diplomacy and lobbying in Washington to destroy Kashmiris struggle for the
self-determination by linking it to global terrorism.
7. Trade liberalization in the presence of core issues like Kashmir. Extending economic and
trade outreach to Afghanistan and Central Asia using Pakistani road links.
8. Forcing Pakistan to accept a back channel settlement of Kashmir issue which will be
amenable to Indian interests only and would destroy the Pakistani case in UN.
This Indian strategy has been wreaking havoc in Pakistan since the beginning of war on terror.
Siachen issue must be analyzed in this bigger and broader strategic context to completely
comprehend the grand Indian designs to isolate and then decapitate Pakistan to become regional
and then global player after competing with China.
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Pakistan Army Jawans at Saltoro ridge
The perception that no one cares about the Siachen and other glaciers in the region is just a
dangerous misjudgment. In reality this region holds strategic importance not only for India
and Pakistan but for China as well. Retired Air-Vice Marshal, Shahzad Chudhary, has
following to say in this regard.
―It remains the impassability of the terrain which has kept India from moving down the slopes
in a grand encirclement manoeuvre, at least in the theoretical sense, along the Northern
Areas of Pakistan to envelop the Pakistani controlled territories of Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
That explains the strategic potential, though the force and the terrain needed to execute this
would be almost impossible in quantum, capacity and capability with a terribly long logistic
chain. Who says that isn‘t strategically significant for a nation whose strategic vision is still
evolving?
Next, by sitting across at the Karakoram if the triangle is ceded to India – as she desires by
recognising and recording her current position along the AGPL – she sits on the door
between China and Pakistan and also on the western gate to Tibet. Keep in mind that China
has linked its Western Sinkiang Province to Tibet through a network of highways and planned
railroads that will sit just across the Indian position on the Karakoram. It doesn‘t get more
strategic than that for all side.[11]
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Pakistan must not make the same mistake that it made on Kashmir in 2004 when Musharraf
regime chose unilateral ceasefire on LoC. This historical strategic blunder created two major
problems for Pakistan. One of them is clearly existential in nature. First, Indians built a fence
along the LoC bluntly violating the UN resolutions on Kashmir. Secondly, this allows Indians to
put her anti-Pakistan hydrological war into top gear. Within two to three years, India would
acquire the capability to block the Pakistani waters of 3 Western rivers which belong to Pakistan
according to 1960 Indus Water treaty.
Likewise, it must be clear that once Pakistan Army begins moving down from the glacier, Indian
army will start its Northwest march which Pakistan army has been blocking since 1984. India has
spent billions of dollars on this battlefield and will never let her investment go in vein especially
when the policymakers in Delhi are desperate to cut Pak-China road link via KKH.
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Infrastructure buildup by the Indians in the region is also a clear indicator about the Indian
strategic thinking over this battlefield. Indians are building strategic tunnel and road networks to
connect the Ladakh to other portions of the country. Roads in this area exist but current
renovation and tunnel buildup is purely for military purposes. One such project is 9 KM long
Rohtang Tunnel that will ensure all weather road connectivity between the Ladakh‟s capital Leh
to Manali in Himachal Pradesh. It will be built at a height of 3,000-3,100 meters and one of the
highest in the world. The tunnel is important to maintain supply lines to the forward posts in
Ladakh and Siachen Glacier. [12]
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Rothang Tunnel – Part of Indian army’s strategic infrastructure
Apart from that, Indian military preparedness regarding Siachen glacier clearly indicates that
there is absolutely no sign from the Indian side to withdraw from world‟s highest battlefield and
relocate them according to the 1989 agreement. Indian Army is taking deliveries of Dhruv
helicopter which has specifically designed for icy regions. Dhruv passed these test trials in
2007[13]
and is now part of Indian Army aviation.
Indian Army upgraded Cheeta helicopters (under new name Cheetal) with more powerful engines
back in 2006 to be used, by 114 Helicopter Unit, for logistical deliveries on Siachen glacier and
Saltoro range peaks.
According to Indian strategic analyst Dr Subhash Kapila, Siachen and Saltoro ridge are important
for India due to following factors.
Strategic high ground and terrain domination over Pakistan's Northern Areas and
Shaksgam valley China.
It blocks routes of ingress to the vital Ladakh sector, and provides a 'strategic wedge' to
prevent a further Pakistan-China geographical link-up.
It acts as a 'strategic pressure point' against Pakistan's military adventurism in the Kargil
sector.
Indira-Col, the northern most part of Siachen, directly overlooks Chinese occupied
territory that was illegally ceded by Pakistan to China. Having a foot on the ground here is
the only way for India to legitimately and effectively dispute the illegal Chinese presence
here. [14]
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Indian Army Observation Post (OP) – Indian Army has built many such to look over
Gilgat-Baltistan region and China
Indian strategic community also considers Nubra Valley and Siachen glacier‟s Saser La pass as
India's best gateway to Central Asia. According to this thought process, when (not if) that pass is
reopened for trade, the true strategic worth of defending Saltoro will become apparent even to the
most willfully obtuse. [15]
This clearly forewarns about the ultimate Indian design and accordingly India wants Pakistan to
authenticate current position of both countries over this battlefield making the AGPL as
permanent border between Pakistan and India. Pakistan must not ignore this thinking by Indian
strategic community while evaluating its option on this frontline.
Like every other battlefield in the world, Siachen has its own share of critical lessons to be
learned by Pakistan.
1. Pakistan would have been in much advantageous position had it adopted and matured the
concept of building robust strategic lift capability as part of overall defense strategy which
is crucial in offensive strategic maneuvers particularly in mountainous regions.
Pakistan suffered in 1948, 1971 and 1984 as Indians had built and exploited this capability
beating Pakistan Army in race to capture critical nodal points in war zones. Operation
Maghdoot was essentially an airlift operation.
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2. Strategic interests can only be secured from a position of strength in battlefield and it is
true for diplomatic engagement as well. Accurate calculations like international reaction,
diplomatic implications and geopolitical fallouts must be made in the planning phase of
any military maneuver. After all the war, on its own, is a political phenomenon with
military power acting as a tool to achieve the position of strength in the end game.
In Kargil war 1999, Pakistan was holding on to advantageous position by capturing high
grounds but aftermath of war put Pakistani claim and credibility of being peaceful nation
on shaky grounds and provided Indians with how-to-trust-Pakistan excuse making the
diplomatic job more challenging for Pakistani foreign office.
Final Thoughts
Pakistan made series of strategic miscalculations and mistakes on Kashmir issue during the last 2
decades and now there is no margin of error. The country is already in state of war against sub-
conventional insurgencies and terrorism amid corruption, economic meltdown, ideological
subversion, Indian media onslaught and historically worst governance. These facets of war have
put Pakistan into a compromising position as exhibited by the decisions made over trade with
India without demanding the solution for Kashmir. Indians being the main protagonist in
Pakistan‟s existential war of survival are aware of the situation and want to get maximum
concessions on each and every unresolved issue. Siachen is one of such core issues where
country‟s strategic interests are at stake and Gyari avalanche has provided the opportunity to the
Indian elements within Pakistani media and civil society to push Indian foreign policy agenda. In
present chaotic 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 demarcation of LoC and demilitarization of the glacier. Any backdoor diplomacy
over this critical battlefield would be suicidal and treacherous and Pakistani nation and armed
forces would never accept another strategic blunder, not after giving countless ultimate sacrifices!
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Pakistan Army Jawan – Standing alert on roof of the world to defend, to serve, to give
ultimate sacrifice!
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End Notes
[1]Pakistan avalanche shines light on ‗futile‘ war, Washington Post, Published: April 8, 2012.
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/apr/9/pakistan-avalanche-shines-light-futile-
war/?page=2
[2] Demilitarization of the Siachen Conflict Zone: Concepts for Implementation and Monitoring
By Brigadier (ret.) Asad Hakeem Pakistan Army, Brigadier (ret.) Gurmeet Kanwal Indian Army
www.cmc.sandia.gov/cmc-papers/sand20075670.pdf
[3] An Interview with Padma Bhushan Lt Gen (Retd) Dr M.L Chibber,
http://www.defencejournal.com/2000/june/interview.htm
[4] Manning the Siachen Glacier BY Nikhil Shah, Sunil S and B. Bhattacharjee
http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/MONITOR/ISSUE6-1/Siachen.html
[5] The Coldest War By Kevin Fedarko*
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http://www.wesjones.com/coldest.htm
[6] Ibid
[7] EXPEDITION FROM INDIA ARRIVES IN ANTARCTICA By Robert Reinhold Published:
February 16, 1982
http://www.nytimes.com/1982/02/16/science/expedition-from-india-arrives-in-antarctica.html
[8] ―Saniha Siachen: Ae Puttar Hatan Tey Nahi Vikday‖ (Urdu) By Lt. Gen(retired) Abdul
Qayyum Published: April 13, 2012
http://www.nawaiwaqt.com.pk/E-Paper/Lahore/2012-04-13/page-10
[9] All about the Siachen Glacier: the conflict, perspectives of India and Pakistan, geography,
history and the possible resolutions
http://www.siachenglacier.com/
[10] Experiencing Siachen War ( Part 3) By: KEVIN FEDARKO
http://hassaanrabbani.wordpress.com/2011/09/08/experiencing-siachen-war-part-3-by-kevin-
fedarko/
[11] Getting real on Siachen BY AVM(Retired) Shahzad Chudhary Published April 18, 2012.
http://e.thenews.com.pk/4-18-2012/page6.asp
[12] Rohtang Tunnel to be completed by 2014 By Ritu Sharma published: 12/08/2009
http://www.igovernment.in/site/rohtang-tunnel-be-completed-2014-36235
[13] Dhruv all set to be inducted in Siachen sector, Hindustan Times Published September 03,
2007
http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/JAndK/Dhruv-all-set-to-be-inducted-in-Siachen-
sector/Article1-245931.aspx
[14] Don't sell out Siachen By Dr Subhash Kapila Published: May 24, 2006
http://www.rediff.com/news/2006/may/24guest.htm
[15] Celebrating 20 years of victory on the Saltoro Ridge
http://forums.bharat-rakshak.com/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=118
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