Positive talks on Siachen held
The twelfth round of defence secretary-level two-day talks between India and Pakistan to reach an agreement on the Siachen Glacier began in New Delhi on Monday but no major breakthrough is expected on any demilitarisation of the glacier. The Siachen Glacier is the world’s highest and coldest battlefield where temperatures plunge as low
as minus 50 degrees Celsius in winters. For the Indian soldiers stationed in Siachen, extreme weather is a much more formidable opponent than Pakistan.
The Indian delegation is being led by defence secretary Pradeep Kumar. The Pakistani delegation is being led by Pakistan defence secretary Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Syed Ather Ali.
Defence sources said there was a one-on one meeting at first between the two defence secretaries. This was followed by the delegation-level talks which were “constructive and positive”. Sources said both sides presented their respective positions on Siachen. The Pakistan delegation also met defence minister A.K. Antony. Sources said the two sides also met in a cordial atmosphere over dinner on Monday. Both nations will be striving to eliminate the trust deficit that exists between them.
Before any demilitarisation of Siachen, India is keen on full demarcation of the ground position of troops in the region beyond the NJ 9842 (map co-ordinate) position on the glacier. Pakistan had so far resisted the idea of demarcation of current ground positions on both sides. This is so that it (Pakistan) can exercise the option of occupying posts in case they are vacated by the Indian Army as part of any settlement. Pakistan’s gameplan so far has been to extend any border demarcation in the north-west direction to the Karakoram pass. India, on the other hand, wants extension of any mutually agreed upon border demarcation up north from the NJ 9842 position along the ridgelines.
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