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Indo-Pak chill on Siachen continues
Ajay Banerjee
Tribune News Service

Pak Contention Pakistan’s contention was that the northern part of the 2,600 sq km Siachen glacier abuts the Shaksham valley which is under Chinese control. Hence, there was need to have Beijing on board.

India’s stand India cannot accept such a suggestion as the Shaksham valley, a 5,800 sq km mountainous area just north of the Karakoram pass, was part of the state of Jammu and Kashmir. Pakistan first illegally occupied parts of J&K in 1948 and then ceded the Shaksham valley to China in 1959.

New Delhi, May 31
Much on the expected lines, India and Pakistan today failed to find a breakthrough on Siachen Glacier issue that is one of the several irritants dogging the relationship between the two countries.

Though both sides stuck to their well-known two-decade-old stated positions, a carefully worded and nuanced joint statement was issued here today. Islamabad played the ‘China card’ during the meeting suggesting that its closest military ally should be included in the talks to resolve the Siachen issue. “It was not acceptable,” said sources while confirming the Pakistan suggestion.

Pakistan’s contention was that the northern part of the 2,600 sq km Siachen glacier abuts the Shaksham valley which is under Chinese control. Hence, there was need to have Beijing on board. India cannot accept such a suggestion as the Shaksham valley, a 5,800 sq km mountainous area just north of the Karakoram pass, was part of the state of Jammu and Kashmir. Pakistan first illegally occupied parts of J&K in 1948 and then ceded the Shaksham valley to China in 1959.

The Indian Defence Secretary Pradeep Kumar and his counterpart Lt Gen (Retd) Syed Athar Ali ended the two-day talks with a joint statement saying “both sides welcomed the ongoing dialogue process. The discussions were held in a frank and cordial atmosphere”.

The statement went on to say, “It (the talks) contributed to an enhanced understanding of each other’s position on Siachen.” Both sides acknowledged that the ceasefire was holding since November 2003 and agreed to continue the discussions in a meaningful and result-oriented manner. They agreed to meet again at a mutually convenient date in Islamabad, the statement said. India presented its position that there were no ‘iron cast’ guarantees that Pakistan or China will not occupy these heights. There is no question of relinquishing control of the 21,000 feet high glacier that is occupied by Indian Army. All along the 110-km-long actual ground position line (AGPL) India hold commanding heights while Pakistan is at a disadvantage.

In April 1984, the Army and the IAF in a joint operation - ‘Megdhoot’ - gained control of the glacier. Since then Pakistan Army has made a few major attempts to evict the Indians.

Pakistan wants India should de-militarise the glacier and revert to the pre-1972 status. As per the 1949 Karachi agreement, the Cease Fire Line (now termed the LoC) was delineated up to a point in the Karakoram range called NJ 9842 (a grid reference on the map).

The agreement describes the CFL up to point NJ 9842 and mentions that thereafter lies northwards towards the glaciers. The 1972 Simla Agreement was silent on the delineation beyond NJ 9842. Pak claims that the line should join NJ 9842 with Karakoram Pass, meaning the entire glacier should fall in Pakistan. The Indian position is that the line runs towards the glacier along the watersheds formed by the Saltoro Range as per the internationally accepted principle of border.