KARACHI: In a statement the Foreign Office said that there is no change in policy on Siachen and Pakistan is not considering withdrawal of troops from the glacier, the media reported on Thursday.
The FO spokesperson, Moazzam Ahmed Khan, in a weekly briefing to the media stated that dialogue between Pakistan and India on troop deployment is underway, however, there is no change in Pakistan’s policy towards Siachen.
Appreciating the sentiment and welcoming Pakistan's stance on resolving the Siachen issue, the defence Minister of India said the issue should be resolved for a more peaceful outcome.
On Wednesday, Army Chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani said that both India and Pakistan should talk on issues including siachen.
In his visit to Siachen, PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif said that withdrawal of troops by both armies would be beneficial for both India and Pakistan.
It may be mentioned that around 138 Pakistan Army jawans died in the country’s largest avalanche earlier this month.
The incident has sparked debate as to why India and Pakistan are fighting on an uninhabited glacier called the rooftop of the world.
Experts say that both India and Pakistan should withdraw from Siachen as the environment on the glacier is deteriorating due to global warming, black carbon and human military intervention.
They are also of the belief that loss of lives on the glacier could increase in the future but warned that Pakistan must not withdraw unilaterally. A unilateral withdrawal of Pakistani troops would leave the entire Siachen glacier open to Indian occupation which would be detrimental to Pakistan.
The Pakistan Army has sacrificed incalculably to fight Indian aggression in Siachen since April 1984 when Indian Army suddenly occupied key Siachen glacier areas.
A ceasefire has been in force since 2003 with heavy financial and human losses on both sides, more so on the Indian due to their larger presence.
Experts suggest that both Pakistan and India should come to an agreement to the pre-1984 position and declare Siachen a demilitarised zone. Withdrawal from Siachen by both armies would also control degradation of Siachen glacier's environment being polluted by human activities, metals, plastics, oils, emissions, etc.
The dispute started in 1984 with the deployment of an Indian Army battalion on the glacier blocking the two key northern passes of Bilafond La and Sia La, in the Saltoro Range. Pakistan had to respond quickly to counter the Indian deployment.
However, some observers say that the importance of Siachen has been over-exaggerated by both sides.
The time has come for the UN, US or UK to convince both countries for a unilateral withdrawal of their battalions from the area.
Neither country can afford an incident like the one in Siachen again.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2012
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