Siachen’s Non-paper and the Non-people

#10 by zeemax on April 10, 2006 11:35pm PT


More soldiers die there from frost-bite without a bullet being fired.


There was no weather related casualties on the Indian side in 2005.


Also, I believe the financial cost to the Indian side is many times more than Pakistan`s i.e. something lik $10 mil a day. Is that correct and why is that?


India spends about 5 times as much as Pakistan because the glacier is harder to access from the India side. Being that the Indian economy is 10 times the size of the paki economy, Pakistan is being forced to spend disproportionately. then again, the money spent on the Indian army doesn`t embolden it to take over the government..

#12 by IB

India has tried to change the look & feel of population in Kashmir by encourageing `Indians - Hindus ` to move to certain part of Kashmir . At a same time there has been ocassions when villages & villagers which helped `freedom fighters` are killed - so theres this fear - but even then during Kargil misadventure, some bordering villages with muslim majority helped Pakistan Army & majority of villagers were asked to leave the area by Indian Army suspecting that they will revolt against Indians if Pakistan Army advanced.

Do you have any proof to back up your half-a$$ed statement? Or is it yet another Paki being..well..a Paki?

Sino-Pak agreement ceding a part of Kashmir is provisional and that it will be renegotiated with China after the Kashmir dispute is settled.

So is it okay if India cedes Srinagar to the US provisionally until the dispute is settled?

@Stuka,
India has tried to change the look & feel of population in Kashmir by encourageing `Indians - Hindus ` to move to certain part of Kashmir . At a same time there has been ocassions when villages & villagers which helped `freedom fighters` are killed - so theres this fear - but even then during Kargil misadventure, some bordering villages with muslim majority helped Pakistan Army & majority of villagers were asked to leave the area by Indian Army suspecting that they will revolt against Indians if Pakistan Army advanced .
Sino-Pak agreement ceding a part of Kashmir is provisional and that it will be renegotiated with China after the Kashmir dispute is settled.

#10 by zeemax

An agreement is imminent because of both human and financial cost involved. More soldiers die there from frost-bite without a bullet being fired.

Indian soldiers die everyday in Kashmir too, but will the Indian Army withdraw from there? Highly unlikely. The costs involved in occupying Siachen are dear, but the cost of withdrawing could be even more.

Also, I believe the financial cost to the Indian side is many times more than Pakistan`s i.e. something lik $10 mil a day. Is that correct and why is that?

It is because the Indian side holds the heights overlooking Pak-controlled territory and these heights can only be accessed by helicopter, unlike the Paki side that can simply trek to the forward areas. Also, the altitude at which Indian troops are posted requires special clothing, kerosene, and food stuffs that can withstand the effects of the Antarctic-type weather.

#7 by dost-mittar

An agreement is imminent because of both human and financial cost involved. More soldiers die there from frost-bite without a bullet being fired. Also, I believe the financial cost to the Indian side is many times more than Pakistan`s i.e. something lik $10 mil a day. Is that correct and why is that?

``Correct me if i`m wrong but the Shaksam valley is ``currently under Chinese control`` because it`s the part of Kahsmir Pakistan handed over to China... ``

Yup, another ommission that should have bneen mentioned.

IB: There is a significant Muslim population in Ladakh. The Kargil district of Ladakh is Muslim Majority.

``so the people there thinks if they support Pakistan openly , Indians will vanish them afterwards ``

India has not ``vanished`` the Muslims of Kashmir Valley yet, neither has the fear of ``vanishing`` prevented thenm from supporting the insurgency.

Thanks for a very informative article explaining the geographic importance of Siachen. Reports indicate that an agreement has been reached but may not be signed until Manmohan Singh visits Pakistan sometimes this summer.

A northern slope from the glacier leads to the Shaksgam valley a part of Shigar in Baltistan currently under Chinese control.


Correct me if i`m wrong but the Shaksam valley is ``currently under Chinese control`` because it`s the part of Kahsmir Pakistan handed over to China...

As an Indian, I can say that this is the first honest Pakistani article on the Siachen glacier, the ambuguity regarding its status as well as the position of the two countries in current negotiations. Maybe some additional information regarding moutain expeditions originating from the Pakistan side would have shed more light on the Indian action in Siachen.

I would like to add that the people of Kargil and Ladakh have shown no inclination to join the Jehadis of the valley and it would be in India`s strategic interest to encourage people to people interaction.

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Re: # 4
The reason why people of Ladakh & Kargil don`t want to be part of Jehadis is because they are `Buddist` plus since both these areas comes under India so the people there thinks if they support Pakistan openly , Indians will vanish them afterwards .
Siachen is a issue of national pride & ego plus as far as I know , its Indian Army which is against a withdrawl and I do understand there problems but they have to realize that more Kargils will not happen in todays world & that Pakistan had done whatever she can to make peace .

Doesn`t look too bad for the Indians though ... while Pakistanis play cricket ...

yes, let us hope Delhi and Islamabad would someday take into account plight of those unfairely wronged people...thanks for your support.

Ismail Sahib,
Thank you for presenting this very informative article and the associated message of common sense. This tragedy has few similarities in terms of stupidity, death, and forgotten victims. May both countries realize your advice.