Recently, when during a program, Indian Army Chief General Naravane was asked about any possibility of demilitarization of the Siachen glacier, General Naravane stated: “We are not averse to demilitarisation of the Siachen glacier, but a precondition to that is to accept the Actual Ground Position Line. Pakistan has to accept what are their positions and what are our positions, and both of us have to sign on the dotted line before any kind of disengagement takes place.”
This reply was highlighted much in the media with the hope that there is the probability that Sicahen demilitarization can take place. In fact, this is not the first time demilitarization is talked about. Though this is talked about after a much longer gap. Earlier also, there were efforts made for demilitarization and at one time, this issue was considered even ‘Low hanging fruit’ which could be easily taken during the time of composite dialogues and CBMs (Confidence Building Measures).
The story of Siachen started years ago around 1984. Siachen is one such story that reflects how this has become a conflict after around 37 years of birth of India and Pakistan as two sovereign nations.
During 1947-48 ceasefire and later in 1972, Simla Agreement, when ceasefire boundary was drawn, ended at a map coordinate NJ 9842 (a map coordinate point) and mentioned in this agreement as to the ‘northernmost demarcated point’ beyond which there was no demarcation of Line of Control (of India and Pakistan) and for the area north to this coordinate point, the agreement refers the area as ‘from this point to thence north’ without drawing any clear cut line.
It was, though probably a mistake, that the armies of both sides did this, at that time. They may have left this area (from NJ 9842 to thence north) to be interpreted as per their requirement or probably on the basis of the fact that the area beyond this marked point NJ9842 was occupied with thence glaciers and extremely inhospitable environment where no movement of any armies was ever traced even after three wars (1947, 1965, 1971) between these countries. However, unfortunately, the situation did not remain the same after 1984.
Actually, before 1984, there were controversies when Pakistan allowed foreign nationals to go to Siachen, and later on a map, the area was shown as Pakistan’s territory. As the area was not demarcated, India had another interpretation of interpolation of coordinate NJ9842 extension. By the year 1984, there were reports on mountaineering expeditions from the Pakistan army side to which the Indian side also decided to reach Siachen. This resulted in India’s ‘Operation Meghdoot’ started by the Indian Army and both sides faced each other with bullets during these expeditions. Since then Siachen has become a place known as ‘World’s highest battleground’.
This forced war for which neither the hostile environment is supportive nor there seems to be any necessity has put a burden on the common men on both sides. This is because, to make this war sustainable, both countries are spending heavily, somewhere around 200-300 million dollars each year. This huge sum could have been used to improve the prospects for a better life for the common public of both countries. Not just this, this forced inhabitation for a continuous war (though officially stopped by a ceasefire agreement in 2003) has not only meant a loss of huge sums of money but also cost precious lives of soldiers of both sides. Many soldiers on both sides have been killed and many have faced disabilities, not with the bullets but due to inhospitable terrain, the effect of altitude, and weather.
This continuous forced war also has other effects. It adds to the jingoistic sentiments among people, without any reason. It gives a reason for loss of precious lives without any reason, it gives a reason for the harmful effects on the glacial environment and causing climate change without any reason, also it sadly provides a chance to diplomatic and political talks on this reason while there could be more positive and developmental issues of talk.
However, the challenge to Siachen demilitarization is a ‘lack of trust between both sides. Despite the 1972 Simla Agreement wherein, all issues were agreed to be dealt with only bilaterally and not to change any ground positions unilaterally, Siachen expeditions happened. Now, with the recent developments in India-China relations where aggression was seen, it alerted India’s defense strategists to refrain from any moves of demilitarizing Siachen. There was also news that a Muzaffarabad-Yarkand Valley road was proposed which caused another concern for India and hence, it is rare that the Siachen issue is going to be resolved soon.
What is actually at stake is the lives of soldiers and huge economical costs. But Siachen is also a glacier that is considered amongst the most vulnerable glaciers. Many civil society organizations and peacebuilding groups are already advocating to demilitarize Siachen. Now, it is completely upon stakeholders if and how they decide to proceed, but the first and most important thing to move ahead is to build trust and confidence, which should obviously start with a ‘dialogue’.
