Pakistan bats for no troops at Siachen

New Delhi: With 10 Indian soldiers perishing in the avalanche at Siachen glacier, Pakistan on Thursday made a fresh reiteration that both countries should “mutually agree to withdraw from Siachen”, adding that the issue “be treated in an urgent manner between our two countries” to ensure that more lives are not lost on both sides on account of harsh weather conditions. After an avalanche near the Siachen glacier killed 130 Pakistani soldiers in 2012, Pakistan had then requested India for withdrawal of troops of  both countries from the Siachen region.

But despite the deaths of hundreds of Indian soldiers in the past three decades and the mounting human cost of holding on to the Siachen glacier, India has been maintaining that it would not vacate the dominating heights of the Siachen glacier, unless Pakistan agrees to authentication of the position of ground troops in the region and gives iron-clad guarantees that its troops will not occupy positions vacated by Indian troops in case of any agreement on demilitarisation.

“We sincerely hope the issue of Siachen would be treated in an urgent manner,” said Abdul Basit, Pakistan High Commissioner.