Siachen conflict: a prime example of futile war
“War is the extension of politics by other means”
Wars are planned, financed and fought by governments, not by groups or ordinary people. Wars are based on political agendas and they long for complete control over resources, people and territory. Pakistan and India being neighboring countries had fought a number of wars since their inception. Kashmir, Sir Creek and Siachen are the most highlighted issues between two countries. On April 7, 2012, the nature delivered yet another bitter reminder to both India and Pakistan, when a massive avalanche buried 135 soldiers of the Northern Light Infantry (NLI) of Pakistani Army alive. In fact, the 70 km long Siachen glacier lies in the eastern Karakoram Range (disputed region of Kashmir), just east of the Saltoro ridge line. The Saltoro Ridge originates from the Sia Kangri in the Karakoram Ridge and the altitudes range from 5450 to 7720 meters (17,880 to 25,300 feet.) The major passes on this ridge are Sia La at 5589 meters (18,336 feet) and Bilafond La at 5450 meters (17,880 feet), and Gyong La at 5689 meters (18,665 feet.). In strategic and military terms, a battle field of high altitude is always dependent upon its passes which leads to the peak or to that high place. The temperature here can dip up to minus 60 degree Celsius which makes it a very difficult terrain to be a battle field. The word Siachen means 'A place of wild roses' because of the Himalayan wild flowers abound in the valley below the glacier.
Prior to 1984, neither India nor Pakistan had any permanent presence in the area presumably due to the extremely harsh conditions which prohibited any such presence.
Presently the glacier is also the highest battleground on earth, where India and Pakistan have fought intermittently since April 13, 1984. Pakistan maintains permanent military personnel in the region at a height of over 6,000m and so does India. The site is a prime example of mountain warfare. This glacier is presently a source of conflict and from 1984 to 2003, the troops of both countries remained engage in a tiresome warfare on that place. Since 2003 there is a ceasefire between both countries on Siachen glacier but neither of these countries had retreated a single inch from that glacier, as both have their own reservations on this issue. There are many other issues associated with this issue, like the environment hazards and economic constraints. But the both parties are quite adamant in evacuating their places on Siachen. There was also a suggestion to make this place a 'Peace Park' where both countries have a free access without deploying troops. But this idea is also held in abeyance due to the long term feud. But in any case it is extremely necessary to develop peace between Pakistan and India for the betterment of this region.
Background:
Right after the partition, due to its hegemonic interests, India sent its troops and captured the state of Kashmir. The matter was taken to UNO and the boundary was demarcated according to Karachi Agreement (1949) but this area was not catered in that agreement. Right after the debacle of East Pakistan in 1971, Shimla Agreement had also not clearly mentioned that who would control the glacier, merely stating that from the NJ9842 location the boundary would proceed “thence north to the glaciers”. In the 1960's and 1970's, however, the United States Defense Mapping Agency (now National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency) issued maps showing detailed position of the area and made their maps available to the public and pilots as proceeding from NJ9842 east-northeast to the Karakoram Pass at 5534m (18,136 ft.) on the China border. Other international (governmental and private cartographers and atlas producers) confirmed this position. This implied in a cartographical and categorical allocation of the entire 2700 square kilometers (1040 square miles) Siachen area to Pakistan. However, prior to 1984 neither India nor Pakistan had any permanent presence in the area presumably due to the extremely harsh conditions which prohibited any such presence. In the 1970s and early 1980s, several mountaineering expeditions applied to Pakistan to climb high peaks in the Siachen area and Pakistan granted them, which reinforces our claim on the area, as these expeditions arrived on the glacier with a permit obtained from the Govt. of Pakistan. In about 1978, the Indian Army mounted an expedition to Teram Kangri peaks (in the Siachen area on the China border and just east of a line drawn due north from NJ9842) as a precursor-exercise (a camouflage to occupy the area by force). The first public mention of a possible conflict situation was an article by Joydeep Sircar in The Telegraph newspaper of Calcutta in 1982, reprinted as “Oropolitics” in the Alpine Journal, London, in 1984. India launched an operation on 13 April, 1984. The Indian Army and the Indian Air Force went into the glacier region. Pakistan army quickly responded with troop deployments and what followed was literally a race to the top. Since the glacier is not physically connected to India (there is no natural ground routes connecting India and Siachen Glacier), therefore, it used its Air Force to drop all of its forces at Siachen and still to this day uses helicopters and aircrafts to transport supplies, food and soldiers.
In 1983, Pakistani top military brass decided to claim Siachen territory by military deployment. After analysing the Indian Army's mountaineering expeditions, they feared that India might capture key ridges and passes near the glacier, and decided to send their own troops first. Islamabad ordered Arctic-weather gear from a supplier from London, unaware that the same supplier provided outfits to the Indians. The Indians were informed about this development and initiated their own plan, providing them with a head start. As India got the wind of Pakistan's plan about this area they elevated their efforts twice as they were doing. They decided to deploy their forces from Laddakh region as most of their troops were acclimatized to the extremities of the glacier through a training expedition to Antarctica in 1982.
Some facts
Pakistan spends approximately Rs. 15 million per day, 450 per month and 5.4 billion rupees per year.
India spends approximately Rs. 50 million per day, 1.5 billion per month and 30 billion rupees per year.
One Pakistani soldier is killed every third day on Siachen Glacier and average 100 casualties annually.
While one Indian soldier is killed every next day on Siachen Glacier and average 180 casualties annually.
According to unofficial data Pakistan has lost 3000 soldiers while India has lost 5000 soldiers till now.
Pakistan has 4000 troops deployed in Siachen Glacier, whereas India has stationed 7000 troops there.
The Indian Army planned an operation to occupy the glacier by 13 April 1984, to pre-empt the Pakistani Army by about 4 days, as intelligence had reported that the Pakistani operation planned to occupy the glacier by 17 April. Named for the divine Cloud Messenger, Meghaduta, from the 4th century AD Sanskrit play by Kalidasa, "Operation Meghdoot" was led by Lieutenant General Prem Nath Hoon. The first phase of the operation began in March 1984 with the march on foot to the eastern base of the glacier. A full battalion of the Kumaon Regiment and units from the Ladakh Scouts, marched with full battle packs through an ice-bound Zoji La pass for days. The units under the command of Lieutenant Colonel (later Brigadier) D. K. Khanna were moved on foot to avoid detection of large troop movements by Pakistani radars. The remaining forward deployment units then marched and climbed for four days under the command of Captain P. V. Yadav to secure the remaining heights of the Saltoro Ridge. By April 13, approximately 300 Indian troops were dug into the critical peaks and passes of the glacier. By the time Pakistan troops managed to get into the immediate area, they found that the Indian troops had occupied all 3 major mountain passes of Sia La, Gyong La and Bilafond La and all the commanding heights of the Saltoro Ridge west of Siachen Glacier. Handicapped by the altitude and the limited time, Pakistan could only manage to control the Saltoro Ridge's western slopes and foothills despite the fact that Pakistan possessed more ground accessible routes to the area, unlike Indian access which was largely reliant on air drops for supplies due to the steeper eastern side of the glacier. As a result of this operation, Indian Army had captured the entire glacier and all of its tributary glaciers as well as the three main passes of Siachen, Bilafond La, Sia La and Gyong La, thus holding onto the technical advantage of high ground. In 1987 and 1989, Pakistan Army carried out military operations to get that area back, but no significant success.
Current Scenario and Talks:
Kargil conflict was a milestone in the deterioration of the peace process between the two countries. All the peace talks which begin right after the conflict were shattered and the idea of evacuating the glacier was held in abeyance, as Pakistan Army desired to bargain Siachen with Kargil after the success of that operation. Although in 2003 both countries announced ceasefire but still there is viable solution of this conflict and both countries have still their troops on Siachen. After the 10th meeting on Siachen, on 24th May 2006, the joint statement clearly reflected already anticipated stalemate. This is indeed very disappointing especially if viewed within context of unduly raised hopes of people. Some reports had already projected the likely signing of the agreement during expected Indian prime Minister's Pakistan visit in July this year. Just before the joint statement was issued, the Indian Defense Minister pointed out that the main obstacle was mapping the bases and frontline. The Indian assertion to authenticate the actual ground position line is viewed by many in Pakistan as legitimizing Indian aggression in the Siachen area. Not only India violated the Simla agreement by undertaking a uni-lateral violation of the LOC and acquired some area which was deemed to be under Pakistan's control but are also seeking to secure legal cover to retain the area its troops forcibly occupied. The resolution of the Siachen dispute does not really require many efforts unless a calculated tactics of foot dragging is employed for delaying its resolution. Admittedly the notion of foot dragging is directly linked with the lack of desired level of political will. However, the joint statement and the interviews of the involved participants point towards the existence of the will, or at least the impression is generated that they want to solve it, but it requires more negotiations.
Not only India violated the Simla agreement by undertaking a uni-lateral violation of the LOC and acquired some area which was deemed to be under Pakistan's control but are also seeking to secure legal cover to retain the area its troops forcibly occupied.
Environmental Hazards:
Environmental experts have predicted that the military presence of both the countries in this area is seriously damaging the natural ecology of this region. Faisal Nadeem Gorchani of the Sustainable Development Policy Institute in Islamabad said the glacier had shrunk by 10 kilometres in the last 35 years. “More than half of the glacier reduction comes from the military presence. Troop movements, training exercises and building infrastructure, all accelerate melting.” Waste from the military camps is also a major problem, harming the local environment and threatening to pollute the water systems upon which, millions of people across the subcontinent depend. “Indian army officials have described the Siachen as 'the world's biggest and highest garbage dump,” said a US expert Neal Kemkar in an article for the Stanford Environmental Law Journal. The report quoted estimates from the International Union for Conservation of Nature saying that on the Indian side alone, more than 900 kilogrammes of human waste was dropped into crevasses every day. Kemkar said that 40 percent of the military waste was plastics and metal, and as there are no natural biodegrading agents present, “metals and plastics simply merge with the glacier as permanent pollutants, leaching toxins like cobalt, cadmium, and chromium into the ice”. “This waste eventually reaches the Indus River, affecting drinking and irrigation water that millions of people downstream from the Siachen, both Indian and Pakistani, depend upon,” the report said. Kemkar also warned that the conflict had affected wildlife, with the habitat of animals such as the endangered Snow Leopard, the Brown Bear, Yak and the Ibex (A type of wild goat), all threatened. Environmentalists say that the speed of Siachen Glacier's retreat is about 110 metres a year. This is mainly due to the military presence in that area. Because when the non-biodegradable material is injected in such a massive amount to an area , it being unable to become a part of the nitrogen cycle (that converts the degradable material into usable substance), becomes menace to the environment. The cadmium, lithium and lead engulfed into the glacier pose a grave threat to the environment and other living things which are to be fed on its water. Besides, a daily leakage of about 2,000 gallons of kerosene oil from 250-kilometre-long plastic pipeline is also accelerating the melting process. These environmental hazards are directly affecting the environment of the region in one or the other way.
Conclusion:
There is an ongoing huge economic and human loss in this area, from both countries. India has deployed its seven thousand troops in this region and Pakistan's 4000 thousand soldiers are there. At one time, one Pakistani soldier was killed every fourth day, while one Indian soldier was killed every other day. Over 1,300 Pakistani soldiers died on Siachen between 1984 and 1999. According to Indian estimates, this operation had cost India over Rs. 50 billion and almost 2,000 personnel casualties till 1997. Almost all of the casualties on both sides have been due to extreme weather conditions. This futile battle ground of no significance is adding fuel to the fire of our economic deterioration and engulfing our assets.
In Siachen, Pakistan and India each maintains 150 manned posts with 10 battalions each for a total of some 6,000 troops. Pakistan has deployed up to half a dozen helicopters, to transport food supplies as well as ammunition. The cost of being airborne per helicopter, per hour is Rs 55,000. Snow taxis cost around Rs 400,000 each. Each bread by the time it reaches our troops costs Rs100. The high altitude clothing easily costs Rs 100,000 per head.
In all these conditions the solution of this conflict is quite necessary, rather it should be immediate as well. Three solutions are already in circulation, and they deserve to be mentioned here. First, the parties could easily decide to go back to the positions when Simla Agreement was signed. The Simla Agreement in its 4th clause specifically states that 'Line of Control resulting from ceasefire of December 17, 1971, shall be respected by both sides without prejudice to the recognized position of either side. Neither side shall seek to alter it unilaterally, irrespective of mutual differences and legal interpretations’. It was India that altered LOC unilaterally not just once but many times including the Siachin violation in 1984. Second, the parties could easily opt for the agreement which they reportedly agreed in 1989. The idea of redeployment of troops could again be salvaged and applied as it was agreed to be applied in 1989 agreed formula. This time they are talking about withdrawal of forces. Third approach revolves around concepts like ‘Mountain of Peace’ or ‘Peace Park’ or ‘Science Park’ which would imply that both parties withdraw their troops from the disputed region. This could provide a face saving device to both parties.
The above mentioned solution may bring an optimized way back from this conflict. Otherwise it is not deteriorating the peace process; rather it is affecting the economy, environment and the precious lives of our loved ones. This adamant behaviour must be exterminated in order to develop a cordial relationship and harmony among India and Pakistan. This peace process will benefit the whole region.
Dr. Munawar Sabir