Parliamentarians on Monday expressed sorrow and discussed in the joint sitting of parliament the human tragedy which befell 124 soldiers and 11 civilians who were buried alive under a massive avalanche near the Siachen Glacier. They also prayed for the survival of all 135 people who got trapped under the snow.
Expressing sorrow over the incident, Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Syed Khurshid Shah said: "Our soldiers protect our country's borders. We pray for their survival." Stressing the need for peacefully resolving the dispute between India and Pakistan over the Siachen Glacier, Senior Vice-President of the Awami National Party (ANP) Haji Muhmmad Adeel said that Pakistan and India were both suffering human losses because of the fighting at the world's highest battlefield.
According to him, one Pakistani soldier and two Indian soldiers were killed every two days because of bad weather. "Both the counties should sit together and resolve this issue through negotiations. The Siachen Glaciers is melting (at a faster rate) because of the battle and troop movements. Pakistan is also facing floods due high the high melting rate of these glaciers. Both countries could be faced a severe shortage of water in future," he said.
He said that both the countries should start negotiations to resolve the issues of Kashmir, Siachen, Sir Creek along with other contentious issues. MNA Akhonzada Chitan of the PPP said that Siachen was a sensitive place and the American team should not be allowed there. Senator M Hamza of the PML-N said that thousands of solider had been martyred at Siachen and it should be stopped. Both the country should resolve such issues via talks.
"Madam Speaker, I am not seeing the defence minister in the joint sitting. The minister should be here to give a statement on this incident," he said. MNA Asif Hasnain of the MQM said that the government should announce a mourning period over the incident.
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