DEMILITARIZATION OF SIACHEN GLACIER

More about the avalanche. News reports that Americans, Chinese, German & Swiss teams assisted.  The Pakistan Army used whatever resources it could muster & move – surface & air. (Movement by surface means is extremely hazardous and painfully slow. Movement by air (helicopters) is severely limited; restricted hours of operation, unpredictable weather & other limiting effects at such high altitudes. 

The avalanche wiped away nearly a kilometre of the road which was the lifeline to Pakistani troops on the Saltoro Ridge line. Several Pakistani positions on Saltoro Ridge are cut off. Those that are not have to hold the positions & provide whatever relief is possible from their already strained resources. 

If we have significant tactical advantages, Pakistan has had logistics advantages on the Ridge. They occupy positions at lower altitudes – supplied comparatively easily. Our supply lines are longer, over much harsher & dangerous terrain, & costlier in terms of human lives.
  
For many years Pakistan needed this border issue alive due to various internal compulsions including US aid, besides their India centric paronia. Today, they have diversified (LOL) & money flows in for fighting other self-inflicted cancers. They continue to need the Actual Ground Position Line (AGPL) issue to be kept alive – but its now going to be very much more costlier – and for a quite a while now.  

What is worrying for them now is the fact that the avalanche disrupted supply line passes through the Shia dominated areas of North Pakistan – almost on the verge of an insurgent implosion. In short, they know that their challenges have multiplied, but want to keep this option also open – favourably & at reduced cost !!

Infringement of an agreed upon demarcated line depicting an international boundary within which respective nations administer their respective territories, will attract negative world opinion. It is seen as a wilful act of aggression. Any talks which leave out the demarcation of the AGLP, therefore, have the seeds of fraud already sown. In effect, what Pak is asking us to do is this. No demarcation – implying - area remains disputed, does not have international recognition, land grabbing would not be an infringement into ‘our’ territory. De-militarize – give up all our tactical advantages and leave the area vulnerable to exploitation at a time, place & manner of their convenience. They expect us to ‘invite’ them into the area with a promise that we will make no ‘noise’.  
 
We have been kind enough already. At its weakest perhaps today, the Pak defences on the Saltoro Ridge would collapse in no time if we decided to go after them. Imagine the reaction of Pak troops, cut off from their rear, limited reserves, no resupply, no reinforcements – their morale (a battle winning factor) at its lowest. Militarily alone, doing a ‘Kargil’ on them at this point appears to be insanely simple. Instead, the Indian approach has far deeper ramifications & needs to be supported. Media would do the nation a great service to take up such themes rather than to end up creating a hysteria in support of what our adversary desires.

Thanks Brigadiersaab! I too agree with the posts that it was indeed fortunate that you sought share an insider's reading of such a important issue. I also agree with Srinivasji that unfortunately we will not see such authentic articles or even news items like this in the mainstream media. The number of genuine experts in highly topical subjects like this are painfully dismal. And even the small numbers of such experts are given step motherly treatement compared to journos who are trained to detect and report star pregnancies and relationship status.  

It is high time that both India and Pakisthan put aside their shrill retoric and posturing, if we want to make the Asian age a reality. Or all the Asian countries will miss the bus (except for China). We should be careful to move forward without compromising on our security concerns. For that due importance have to be given to experts and learned students of the topic in the decision making.

A wonderful insight into the unknown area ! Yes, I agree with you that "For once, let's have an opinion of our own". I understand that some medicines were acquired from Kirgisthan (the military capital of Soviet Union??) during Kargil war that helps our forces to sustain sub zero and low oxygen levels?

Great sir.  Media creates stories without knowing the ground reality, but the opinion of a person of your stature can only presents us the real picture. As you said rightly both Pakistan and China have scant respect for world opinion, so they became the natural friends.  Our experience shows that we hardly find correlation in the actions and the words of Pakistan and its army.  we need to carefully dissect the  Kayani's statement on demilitarisation of the glacier from that angle.