By Mansoor Ali Khan, Pakistan
Despite of its strategic importance for India and Pakistan, Siachin glacier has become a ‘Cold Hell’ for the soldiers of both the sides. It is the highest battle ground in the world and probably the coldest witnessed after WW-II, where soldiers first have to fight with the weather and temperature that falls below -58 degree Fahrenheit causing frostbites and other damages to the human body.
The glacier has appeared to be a disaster for the environment. The immense use of explosives is causing quick melting of glaciers which may result into a severe tragedy such as floods in future. The presence of thousands of troops is not only damaging the Ecosystem but also Flora and Fauna of the region. Apart from this, the battlefield is a huge burden for the economies of both countries. Pakistan is being effected more being a small and weak economy, where the nation is engaged in global war on terror and the economy has already faced a loss of US$70 bn. But on Indian side, the forces are at higher posts, trying to prevent a possible Pakistan-China handshake in high Himalayas. To avoid this ‘threat’ India has deployed seven battalions at the glacier that costs Rs.50 million a day, Rs1.5 billion a month and Rs.30 billion a year to Indian economy. India is spending millions of rupees at the cost of lives and millions of peoples who are living below the poverty line. In Pakistan, situation has changed a little after the burying of 127 Pakistani soldiers in an avalanche at Gyari sector on April 7, 2012, 96 of them are still missing and 31 dead bodies have been recovered after the rescue operation of three months. There is a debate going on that whether Siachin should be declared a No man’s land. Maybe this is the time to demilitarize Siachin, or its status should be taken back to the pre-1984 position, when both sides refrained from entering into area before the intervention of the Indian Army. One may not forget that both India and Pakistan are fully equipped with the deadly Nuclear weapons, and the threat of full scale war cannot be ruled out in case of any misunderstanding. Therefore, International community must play its role to settle down disputes between the two countries, and it can be started with Siachin.
Pakistani Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Pervaiz Kiyani had offered demilitarizing Siachin as the most effective way out but it was not responded on serious account by the Indian government. To bridge the gap and narrow down the trust deficit UN or either of the major powers can play their role, as lives and the climate are more important then the strategic gains.
