The Indian government has decided to stick to its conventional position that before any demilitarization of Siachen, Pakistan should agree to full demarcation of the ground position of troops on the glacier. The decision, taken 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. 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 demilitarization. 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.
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.
India to stick to its position on Siachen
