The government of India has decided to stick to the conventional position that before any demilitarisation of Siachen, Pakistan should agree to full demarcation of the ground position of troops on the glacier.
The decision — taken reportedly at a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) — will be reiterated by India at the defence secretary-level talks between the two countries in Islamabad next week, according to Asian Age paper.
India has always insisted on iron-clad guarantees that Pakistani troops will not occupy any post vacated by Indian troops in the event of an agreement being reached in the future on demilitarisation..
Pakistan has so far resisted the idea of demarcation of current ground positions on both sides. Indian defence experts feel that Pakistan is reluctant so that it (Pakistan) can exercise the option of occupying posts in case they are vacated by the Indian Army as part of any settlement. Pakistan’s gameplan so far has been to extend any border demarcation in the northwest direction to the Karakoram pass, the paper said.
India, on the other hand, wants extension of any mutually agreed upon border demarcation straight up north from the NJ 9842 position along the ridgelines. The Indian position is that the line runs towards the glaciers along the watersheds formed by the Saltoro Range as per the internationally accepted principle of border delineation.
After an avalanche near the Siachen glacier killed over 100 Pakistani soldiers a few months ago, Pakistan had requested India for withdrawal of troops of both countries from the Siachen region, the world’s highest battlefield.
The issue had also figured during the recent meeting between Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in New Delhi. Pakistan Army chief Gen. A.P. Kayani had also called for demilitarisation of the region.
The two countries are also expected to discuss the Sir Creek issue soon. The government had recently informed Parliament, “The President of Pakistan during his meeting with the Prime Minister on April 8, pointed out the need for all issues in the bilateral relationship including Sir creek, Siachen and J&K to be addressed. Both leaders felt the need to move forward step by step and find pragmatic and mutually-acceptable solutions to all those issues.”
India will stick to its position on Siachen
