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| Siachen- Indian soldiers “Red Rose”, can’t be abandoned on mere suggestion of ‘self styled peaceniks’ | | A Ladakhi saying, the land is so barren and all the passes so high that only the best of friends or fiercest of enemies would want to visit us | 
By Ashok Kumar
On Sunday (Feb 7,2016), Union Defence Minister, Mr Manohar Parrikar, while expressing deep sorrow and regretting the death of 10 soldiers when an avalanche hit a shelter on the Siachen, said the decision to deploy troops in the world’s highest battle ground was based on security requirements notwithstanding the hostile weather conditions there.
“Decision about sending our troops there (Siachen) is based on the security of the nation. If somebody was to go there and they have to know its strategic importance, why India was maintaining it inspite of hostile weather conditions. I think you will understand it if you go to that place”, he told a group of media persons.
The 32 year old conflict between India and Pakistan on world’s highest battlefield relates to control of Siachen- a part of Saltroo glacier. India occupies it since 1984 and its troops sit on the heights between 16,000 and 22,000 feet, strategically a commanding position. Pakistan occupies lower ridges on its side.
April 13 this year coincides with completion of 32 years of success of “Operation Meghdoot” and Siachen Brigade is likely to celebrate the event with great gusto and pomp. The celebration as usual will kick start with wreath laying at the War Memorial near the base camp.
Last year (2015) Lt. Gen Sanjay Kulkarni, the Director General of Infantry, was the chief guest and it was a momentous day for him for being a part of “Op Megdhoot” and the first man to land on “Belafond La”, the most important pass on Saltroo ridge on April 13, (1984).
He shared his rich experiences by recalling his old memories in the glacier. He reminisced that he was a young officer of 22 years when he was called by his commanding officer and who briefed him on the mission at hand.
Kulkarni selected his team and took occupying defences on the Belafond La. “It was chilling cold, crevasses, avalanches and snow blizzards besides other vagaries of glacier tried to stop us but the grit and guts of our men from “4 KUMAON” had the last laugh”, he recounted while addressing the troops at Siachen base over a fortnight ago.
He said there were no defences, no communication link, no rations, no water and no pre stocked fuel for heating or cooking purpose. Continuous snowfall blocked the route and for next four days “we survived on our own” and then on fourth day a helicopter arrived with much needed supplies.
Seven days later, on April 20 (1984), Gen Kulkarni recollected how the Pakistani troops appeared on the scene with an aim to occupy Bilafond La, they were taken aback on seeing Indian soldiers already there. “They opened fire on our troops which was equally and suitably responded by our brave soldiers and since then tricolour (Indian National Flag) is flying on the pass”, he asserted while boosting the morale of the troops.
In 1977, the area of NJ 9842 had become a fovoured mountaineering hotspot with American, French, German, Dutch, Italians, Japanese, British, and Austrian expeditions with Pakistan army in toe.
Siachen conflict could also be described as a cumulate of grievances over a period of time, roused by heedless shoeprints of these mountaineers trampling in from the other side- Pakistan.
In 1978, principal, High Altitude Warfare School (HAWS) stationed at picturesque Gulmarg , Colonel Narinder Kumar with aliases N Kumar and Bull Kumar, an avid mountaineer prevailed upon his seniors in the army to take an expedition to Siachen. His contention was if Pakistan was permitting foreign expeditions into the glacier from their side why India was declining its approval to anyone including the men in uniform to undertake similar expeditions to the glacier.
Col Kumar, deputed three member reconnaissance team led by Stobdan Kalon to Siachen in May 1978 to see how the glacier lies, about its tracks and what kind of equipment was required for scaling the glacial heights.
The intrigues were further abetted when Pentagon published for the American aircrews the “Technical Air Navigational Chart of Northern Kashmir” for the purpose of helping military pilots to avoid trespassing into another country’s airspace.
The map showed a straight line from Pt.9842 to south of Karakoram pass, Daulat Beg Oldi, thus placing Siachen glacier region and parts of Nubra valley as Pakistan territory.
By late 1983, plans for operation in Siachen had reached the highest echelons of Government in India and there was a tacit support for the same with a rider that it did not escalate into a full fledged war.
This was preceded by exchange of several protest notes (specifically to mention August 21 and 29, 1983 etc) about Indian army’s forays into the glacier and Pakistan’s airspace violations in glacial region of Siachen between two opposing army commanders of respective northern commands, Lt. General Manohar Lal Chibber and Lt. General Jahan Dad Khan.
Pakistan according to reports had decided that the earliest it could launch operation was early May. Everything was discussed threadbare, both air and logistic support was kept at its disposal.
However, the confirmed intelligence input galvanized Indian military planners and on April 13, 1984 deployed over 300 soldiers at the heights of 16,000 to 20,000 feet above sea level, controlling three passes leading to the Siachen glacier. India thus restored de facto the sanctity of the demarcation agreement of December 11, 1972 which had defined the LoC and line running from Pt. 9842 north to glaciers.
The soldiers were stringed out in isolated posts along 110 km long jagged frontline, many of them above 18,000 feet asl.
There was no AGPL prior to 1984, according to defence analysts, the critical date therefore not April 13, 1984 but July 29, 1949 when ceasefire agreement was signed in Karachi by military representatives of India and Pakistan and United Nations Military Observers Group (UNMOG) in pursuance of Part I of the key resolution of August 8, 1948. This was to be followed by a truce under Part II and full compliance, by plebiscite under Part III.
Cease Fire Line (CFL) agreement was ratified by both sides and deposited with the UNMOG. It was revalidatd under the Suchetgarh Agreement of December 1972, in consonance with the intent of the Shimla Accord to move from military confrontation to political settlement of Jammu and Kashmir. It also incorporated military gains made by either side in 1971 war. In Ladakh region (Kargil- Nubra) sector, all territorial gains went solely to India which acquired 254 sq km Turtuk salient comprising five villages just south and west of NJ 9842. The military acquisition provided India an additional territorial bulwark against hostile claims on Siachen.
Pakistan wanted a mutual troop withdrawal and leaving the glacier to pre 1984 position. This cannot be the ground for any document to be accepted by both sides.
Pakistan has been told by India several times earlier to agree to the three pre requisites in a sequence of authentication, delineation and demarcation of the respective troop positions on the ground before any military pullback could be discussed. Pakistan resists authentication and demonstrated least interest in the offer.
Defence analysts here observe that Pakistan wants to prevent India’s emergence as a regional power in Indian subcontinent and beyond and hence, makes a determined effort that India and rest of world should view it as India’s equal. Keeping India’s rise within specified limits or within selected bounds in both belief and objective of Pakistan army and in doing so it is faced with some obvious side effects rather fears and apprehensions that how it would command mechanisms of force and other fundamentals in national power.
“The stalemate continues on several vexed issues including Siachen glacier between the two opposing armies and may continue as long as Pakistan army does not bring ideational and ideological change in its goal”, said a glacier based Indian army officer, requesting anonymity.
Over the years, there has been a lot of improvement in the facilities for the troops posted there, the best winter clothing, mountaineering shoes, socks, wind cheaters, prefab huts with arrangement of solar panels for heating, lighting and cooking purpose. For quick mobility snow scooters and snow beaters buzz the tracks. Fresh fruits, vegetables, milk, dry fruits, nutritious packed food is being air dropped almost on daily basis.
“We have spent over three decades in building up there”, he said, “Why should we let it to go now”.” (And) it is no longer the same as you have witnessed it over 32 years ago”, the official added.
(The author is senior journalist was associated with a reputed international wire service and broadcasting agency)
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