Early morning Saturday, April 07, an avalanche of 1km×1km size, 60-80 feet thickness smashed into a Pakistan army camp on Siachin glacier, burying alive more than 124 soldiers and 11 civilians. Siachin glacier is world’s highest battlefield, 6000m above sea level, wherein winter temperature drops to minus70 Celsius with blizzards gusting at speed of 160km/hr.
Siachin glacier was part of Pakistani Kashmir since Indo-Pak war of 1948, however, Pakistan never kept its forces on the glacier in winter considering as unnecessary due to severe weather conditions. It was so until 1984’s winter when the Indians quietly moved their troops and occupied around 70 percent of the ice mountain. By this Pakistan was also forced to depute its forces throughout the year.
As per an estimate Indians are keeping a force of 5000 soldiers while Pakistan’s strength is about half of that. Both countries are spending US$ 400 – 500 million per year to keep their forces over there.
In local Balti language Siachin means ‘valley of roses’, not valley of death wherein more than 2000 soldiers have died due to extreme weather conditions.
As both countries realise that its waste of resources and unnecessary burden on the forces, they have held dozens of meetings in the past to discuss a possible withdrawal of forces from the glacier, nothing came out of these meetings – reason: ego, stubbornness, deficit of trust. Indians have refused to withdraw until Pakistan recognises its troops’ present position; India fears that in case of its withdrawal, Pakistan may move its soldiers to re-occupy the earlier lost territory.
Today the tragedy has struck Pakistani soldiers; tomorrow it could be with Indian forces, who knows. Then why can’t this glacier be demilitarised and made a mountain of peace?
Why can’t the political and military leaders on either side of the border take a back seat and let the sense to prevail – why to spend resources on a war which is of no use (unless it satisfies some egoist evil minds), why to expose the poor soldiers to severe weather, frost bite, inhospitable terrain and possible death. Perhaps both India and Pakistan may learn a lesson from this catastrophe and re-start the stalled dialogue on Siachin glacier and Sir Creek.
MASOOD KHAN
Jubail, Saudi Arabia