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Thursday, November 08, 2007


 

Defense & Security Kashmir

Pakistan | United Nations

   Siachen Glacier


   

The 78 km long Siachin glacier is hemmed in between the Saltoro ridge line to the west and the main Karakoram range to the east.  The Saltoro ridge originates from the Sia Kangri in the Karakoram range and the altitudes range from 18,000 to 24,000 ft.  The major passes on this ridge are Sia La at 20,000 ft and Bila Fond La at 19,000 ft. 

Presently India holds two-thirds of glacier and commands two of the three passes.  Pakistan controls Gyong La pass that overlooks the Shyok and Nubra river Valley and India's access to Leh district.  Indian imperatives are that if Pakistan is allowed to control the glacier, it would endanger the security of Ladakh and also of Jammu & Kashmir.  With Chinese already in control of Aksai Chin, it is argued that the whole of northern Ladakh would be imperiled if Pakistan is allowed unfettered movement through Siachen.  

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In long-term perspective, Indian strategists also feel that this Himalayan watershed can yield it access to resource rich Central Asian republics through the Afghan panhandle.

Of and on Pakistan activates Siachen prior to any formal talks with India and links Siachen to the Kashmir issue.  Its purpose being to focus the 'core' issue of Kashmir.  By making key Siachen as a potential flash point, especially now in a nuclear environment, it seeks third party intervention in its favor.

 

 

Pakistan on Wednesday denied that it had withdrawn thousands of troops from its border with India to deploy them against militants in the restive tribal areas. (No Pak Pullback From Loc, Asian Age, Correspondent or Reporter, Nov 08, 2007)

India has taken all precautionary measures to ensure its security and is closely monitoring the situation in Pakistan in the wake of President General Pervez Musharraf imposing Emergency there on Saturday. (India Closely Watching Developments In Pak: Antony, Pioneer, Correspondent or Reporter, Nov 05, 2007)

The Sixth Pay Commission, expected to submit its report in April next year, is seriously considering a forceful representation made by the three defence services earlier for a five-fold increase in salaries to attract young persons . . . . (Pay Panel May Consider 5-Fold Hike For Military, Asian Age, Correspondent or Reporter, Oct 25, 2007)

Even as the Punjab police struggle to develop leads into Sunday’s movie-theatre bombing in Ludhiana, intelligence services have warned that worse could be on the way. (More Bombings Likely: Intelligence Agencies, Hindu, PRAVEEN SWAMI, Oct 16, 2007)

The mysterious blast inside an Army camp in north Kashmir on Thursday, for which Hizbul Mujahideen has claimed credit, indicates that the situation in Jammu & Kashmir with regard to terrorism remains unchanged. (Terrorism In J&k, Pioneer, Editorial, The Pioneer, Oct 13, 2007)

IF the real test of the short-term success of a nation’s foreign policy lies in its neighbourhood, rather than in distant lands or remote or rarefied international fora, then India’s policy has been something of a failure in recent years . . . . (Failing The Foreign Policy Test, Frontline, Praful Bidwai, Oct 12, 2007)

Pakistan and India will hold back to back expert-level talks on conventional and nuclear confidence building measures (CBMs) in New Delhi in the third week of October during which they are expected to firm up the two pending agreements . . . . (Pakistan, India To Discuss Cbms From Oct 18 , Dawn, Correspondent or Reporter, Oct 09, 2007)

Pakistan claimed on Monday that India was opening the Siachen glacier only for cadets and not tourists. (India Opening Siachen For Cadets, Not Tourists: Fo, Daily Times, Correspondent or Reporter, Oct 09, 2007)

Indian and Pakistani experts will meet again in New Delhi on October 18 and 19 for talks on conventional and nuclear confidence-building measures. (Experts To Meet On October 18,19 , Tribune, Afzal Khan, Oct 09, 2007)

Mountaineers might have been spared by the Yeti, but there’s no way they can escape this clichéd query. Why do you climb mountains? Annoying. (Climb Every Mountain, Hindu, Correspondent or Reporter, Oct 08, 2007)

Pakistan and India have abandoned the pantomime of propagating hate while opening up trading facilities via the land route on the Wagah border post in Lahore. (Trade With India And Its Problems, Daily Times, Editorial, Daily Times, Oct 03, 2007)

October 26 will mark the 60th anniversary of Jammu and Kashmir’s accession to India following the self-confessed invasion of the state by Pakistan and later its annexation of the Northern Areas. This is part of the UN record. (60 Years Of Accession, Tribune, B.G. Verghese, Oct 01, 2007)

My first trip to Dhaka was in the middle of Ramzan during May in the early Nineties. I had to leave in a hurry with a business associate, a pure vegetarian, to finalise a tender bid with my friend Iqbal’s company and brush up some more contacts. (A Feast After A Fast: Ramzan In Dhaka, Asian Age, Editorial, The Asian Age, Oct 01, 2007)

India, UK ignore protests over joint wargames Indian defence minister says Indo-British military exercises not to provoke Pakistan (India Starts Siachen Trek Despite Pakistan’S Protest, Daily Times, Correspondent or Reporter, Sep 27, 2007)

A trekking expedition has left for the heavily militarised Siachen glacier in disputed Kashmir, despite objections by Pakistan, said the Indian army on Wednesday. (Indians Start Siachen Trek Despite Protests , Dawn, Correspondent or Reporter, Sep 27, 2007)

A 42-member team of trekkers to the Siachen Glacier was today flagged off by Lieut-Gen P.C. Bhardwaj, General Officer Commanding, at Leh. (Trekking Team To Siachen Flagged Off , Tribune, Correspondent or Reporter, Sep 26, 2007)

* FO spokeswoman says deputy high commissioners served demarches * Aslam says more than 300 companies involved in N-proliferation * No reduction in troops in Tribal Areas (Pakistan Protests Uk-India Military Exercise In Ladakh , Daily Times, Correspondent or Reporter, Sep 25, 2007)

Though India is far from an island of calm itself, it has for long been surrounded by instability. (Political Instability Hampers, Tribune, Editorial, The Tribune, Sep 25, 2007)

Pakistan said on Monday that it summoned the Indian and British envoys to the Foreign Ministry and lodged a protest over Indo-British military exercise in the Ladakh mountains and their plan to hold similar exercises in Siachen. (Protests Over Military Exercise In Ladakh , Hindu, Nirupama Subramanian , Sep 25, 2007)

Pakistan on Monday censured the holding of joint India-UK military exercises in the disputed territory of Jammu and Kashmir and also termed the Indian-sponsored trekking expedition in the conflict zone of Siachen an “illegal” step. (India-Uk Military Exercise In Disputed Kashmir Criticised , Dawn, Qudssia Akhlaque, Sep 25, 2007)

 

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