#Hanumanthappa: Indian army won’t leave Siachen unless Pak leaves

It was in 1984 that Indian soldiers beat Pakistani troops during Operation Meghdoot to capture most of the dominating heights on Saltoro Ridge to the west of Siachen Glacier. Since then, this stand-off at the world's highest, coldest and costliest battlefield has been in headlines for one reason or the other.

Even though the post has not seen any action after the ceasefire agreement signed in November 2003, the glacier continues to take valued lives of brave soldiers from both countries.

The country was once again reminded of this deadly glacier after ten soldiers of 19 Madras Regiment were buried in snow after an avalanche hit their 19600 feet high post. Lance-Naik Hanamanthappa Koppad, who was miraculously taken out alive from under the snow after being buried for six days, breathed his last yesterday in Delhi’s Army Hospital, taking the total casualty count to ten.

Ever since the news of avalanche circulated in the country, there have been some voices that say that this fight is futile, over an icy, barren land, having no real strategic significance.

However, the Indian defence establishment is as convinced as it was earlier about the "strategic and tactical value" that Siachen holds for India. Officials say that the Indian Army will not vacate the Saltoro Ridge until and unless Pakistan first agrees to the sequential pre-requisites of "authentication, delineation and demarcation" of the 110-km Actual Ground Position Line (AGPL), marking the respective troop positions on the glacial heights.


"It has to be done both on the ground and maps. Only then can the subsequent disengagement and demilitarisation of Siachen be undertaken in a phased manner," a senior official told TOI.

Pakistan, however, has strongly refused to do this, leading to the talks of making Siachen "a mountain of peace'' remain talks.

Talking of the importance that Siachen holds, officials say that because Indian troops are present on the craggy Saltoro Ridge, that too at heights varying from 16,000 to 22,000-feet, a wedge is formed between China and Pakistan so that they don’t link up their military.

Not only does Indian Army dominate the entire area, they also have a strong presence on Saltoro Ridge, which provides "some military depth" to Leh and Kargil, which in case the army is removed from there, could be threatened by the enemies.

"If we withdraw from the heights, and Pakistani troops occupy them, it would be next-to-impossible to dislodge them. Pakistani soldiers, deployed lower on the western slopes of Saltoro Ridge, have learnt this at great cost when they repeatedly tried to dislodge us in the earlier years," said a senior officer.

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