New Delhi, June 10
Presence of China near the Siachen glacier is bothering India. To add to it, even Pakistan wants Beijing to play a role in the dispute. At the defence secretaries talks in May last year, Islamabad gave a ‘non paper’ — a diplomatic term of unofficially conveying its stand — to suggest a role for Beijing as the northern part of the glacier abuts the Shaksham valley which is under Chinese control. The Shaksham valley, a 5,800 sq km mountainous area north of the glacier, was once a 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 1963.

India, for sure, does not want to open a dialogue with the Chinese on the matter.

If the glacier is vacated without ironclad international guarantees, Indian analysts foresee Pakistani and Chinese armies ganging up. This can bring the Nubra valley and the Karakoram pass under their control and threaten the Ladakh region. The Chinese presence in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan — both abutting the glacier — is a reality at present.

With today’s technology, nobody is ready to buy the argument that it is impossible to access the Siachen glacier from the Chinese-controlled Shaksham valley. It is a very steep climb from the Shaksham valley, but not impossible, maintain the authorities.

Vacating Siachen also means that India loses a vantage listening point and a natural watchtower.

Indian troops hold commanding positions overlooking the restive Gilgit-Baltistan region. India’s fears also stem from the fact that Beijing could be eyeing this vantage watch tower. Till early 1980s, Pakistan used to send civilian mountaineering expeditions to the glacier from its side.

The Indian Army and IAF captured the area in operation “Meghdoot” in April 1984. Since then, Pakistan has made a few unsuccessful attempts to re-capture it. — TNS