The cover story of the latest issue of INDIA TODAY magazine, by Headlines Today deputy editor Gaurav C. Sawant and me is on the Army’s latest assessment of Siachen and its nervousness with new euphoria within the establishment over Siachen as a “deliverable” in the short-term Indo-Pak context. The full text of the piece will be online only next week, but the magazine hits the stands today in case you can’t wait 🙂
@Shiv Aroor
it will be a real harakiri by India if areas won in Siachen battle field north of NJ 9842 after 1984 are returned to Pakistan for some political brawnie points.
But one thing is for sure a quick settlement is needed as maintaining '000 of troops on the icy heights is not only cost prohibitive but also imperils soldiers life.
Also whatever the proposal we must remember Pakistan is at a huge advantage operating out of Dansum an area which India should have gained control long back.
India has had to spend huge money to maintain troops at much higher Saltoro ridgeline to keep eye on movements out of Dansum.
Thanks
Joydeep Ghosh
not only siachen, PM should gift away entire J&K to Pakistan. Why make Chinese unhappy, PM should gift Sikkim, Andaman-Nicobar & Arunachal to China. Lastly the bangladesh and lanka should not go empty-handed, so gift them didi's state and tamil nadu respectively.
"it will be a real harakiri by India if areas won in Siachen battle field north of NJ 9842 after 1984 are returned to Pakistan for some political brawnie points."
EXACTLY! We shall, at no cost, squander the position gained after so many sacrifices. We all know what Pakistan is and that its words have absolutely no value at all. Every time we initiate a mutual ceasefire they barrage our positions and we lose precious lives. Then after some time we enter into a ceasefire again then they barrage our positions again and that time they sent terrorists under barrage cover. Next time we initiated peace talks again they sent the terrorists to Mumbai.
Let me be clear here for a moment. I am not against peace but when Pakistan violates peace we shall return the favor on a massive scale.
And we shall never ever remove our troops from Siachen.
"The full text of the piece will be online only next week, but the magazine hits the stands today in case you can't wait :)"
We can wait .Don't worry .
i frankly don't like your blog to be a selling medium under the garb of a smiley.
NEVER EVER give even a sq. mm of Siachin to pakistan since we hold the high-ground…attained at the expense of our blood and sweat..and becoz pakistan has NEVER honored ANY agreement with india. Period.
We must make sure media applies so much pressure on PMO that they don't even think of making a deal.
-vishal
There is a saying in Hindi "Muuh ka jala chaachh bhi fook fook kar peeta hai" same is the case now, We have already suffered a lot by believing them, in the end result was Kargil happened. Pakis are again singing the same song of belief and mutual understanding, what surety is there that they wont repeat Kargil like act in Siachen. We know,soldiers and there health suffering a lot , while posted at Siachen but i dont think that moving soldiers out of siachen will be a good idea specially when we know that china is not too far away.
if pakistan is soooo interested 4 peace why doesn't it offer demilitarization in areas where it has an advantage??
and pakistan is not present in siachen actual..so what is the meaning of offering to move troops from a place where it is not present to begin with……
if it is squandered it will be an act agaist national interests..
I dont know, my mind dose not allow me to believe media nowadays. Mr. Shiv please dont take it personally but cant help it specially after the "Coupe report by Indian express" which was not only a baseless but also a sensationalized and well aimed rumor. It has left a big blot on media practices. I know some times it is necessary to do a business but business is really more important than country? I hope this report will throw a light in right context including all cons and pros of maintaining troops in Siachen.
Indian politician has no right to gift siachin to pakistan which our solders won by giving their warm red blood in white mountain…..giving siachain mean gifting kashmir to pakistan for which we are fighting for last 65 yaar…..
It looks like pm manmohan ching is an agent of isi who has been assigned to promote corruption and tererism in this country to weeken the india. Which we can see by the fact that how the manmohan ching lead goverment handled army chief's case. And now this can't be denied that their will be some distrust between army and goi. And now handover the siachin to pakistani, that will be perfect. Manmohan ching is misguiding the country. Mr. Manmohan ching why dont you just tell that u will change the name of india and named pakistan so u can give whole india to pakistan in the name of friendship.
if such a sad day ever comes the world will get a fine case study of how to shoot yourself in the head with .50 caliber gun
weak govt. what can we do…..they will sell all honour to pakis.need a strong natioal leader and party.
Is India Today trying to make up for the lost reputation (since VK Singh cover) by putting a pro-arym cover?
It would be the greatest act of treason to trifle with our hold over Siachen.
How on earth can one ever trust the Pakistanis and the Chinese too for that matter.
The sweet nothings from Pakistan are nauseating and revolting knowing what they really think inside.
Why do we forget that Pakistan's foundation as a nation state is based on an antithesis of everything that is India.
Do anything but get full Kashmir and Pakistan back to India and get liberated Tibet, whatever all that means.
How about Pakistan deiver India the portion they occupy in Siachen and we will amicably resolve the Siachen issue. Problem solved!
Frankly, I have no trust left in Manmohan or the rest of his UPA clowns anymore. The b****** is perfectly capable of any idiocy, and I can just feel how much he would be *itching* to screw up India's Pakistan policy as well, after screwing over EVERY OTHER SINGLE DAMN THING in this country (from corruption to domestic politics, and from national security to foreign policy, and from social policies to the economy).
I am of view we can give the some of the occupied heights of Siachen to Pakistan if they agree to our list of demands.
1A) give up control of J&K;
1B) give back the land given to China;
2) give up control of your Armed forces, we will control them;
3) allow us to operate in your territory to kill any chinese or militants;
4) There should be piece in all of Afghanistan, Pakistan and India;
Treaties are implemented with the commercial and political objective and not for free lunch.
If Kangress wants to give everything as freebies the i should agree with "Anonymous at 6:36 PM".
how many more self goals do we want to score ? with Politicos like ManMohan Singh yearning nobel so badly who needs China or Pakistan as an enemy…
Have they forgotten the sacrifices made by the heroes of the likes of Capt. Saurabh Kaalia who were butchered by our so called friendly neighbors ? When and what cost will this Aman Ka Tamaasha bull shit going to stop ?
Anon 6:36PM,
You have a point there. Since we are in a generous mood, why only think of Siachin as "deliverable"? Might well be magnanimous and give away whatever piece of territory whoever asks for!
Decisions where the security and integrity of the nation are concerned should ONLY be taken after much deliberation with the Armed Forces. It should not be left to the stupid politicians alone.
Pakistan and China should NEVER be trusted. They have never displayed any love for India at international forums and are known saboteurs of India.
What does India hope to gain in return? If only goodwill, just forget it. If nothing tangible, India might as well maintain the status quo.
i guess we are jumping the gun here. i have no doubt that such a decision would not see light when.we have strong opposition from BJP and other allies. Never in dream can MMS think of such decisions or else he would be a ideal candidate for the next assasination from RSS or a 21st century Godse. This would never happen call me ahrdliner or a person who.doesnt care for soldiers living at those heights. end of the day a soldier is suppose to.perform their job in all circumstances, eventualities and natural conditions. MMS can make peace peace initiatives via the hotline or through some exceptional speech but cannot dare an action in that direction.
i guess we are jumping the gun here. i have no doubt that such a decision would not see light when.we have strong opposition from BJP and other allies. Never in dream can MMS think of such decisions or else he would be a ideal candidate for the next assasination from RSS or a 21st century Godse. This would never happen call me ahrdliner or a person who.doesnt care for soldiers living at those heights. end of the day a soldier is suppose to.perform their job in all circumstances, eventualities and natural conditions. MMS can make peace peace initiatives via the hotline or through some exceptional speech but cannot dare an action in that direction.
The moment kayani opened his mouth on siachen… and as if to say… Niyat teek nahin tho… you have to endure severe punishment… avalanches…
Tell me one simple maths:
The cost of maintaining military over Saltoro ridge vis a vis the cost of recapturing it back form Pakistani hold.
If cost and human lives is everything then why is India holding Kargil heights now ?
No one can be militarily so naive !
The way Indian political leaders are black mailed into giving concessions to Pakistan from the time of Lal bahadur Shasthri 'Haji Pir Pass", Shimla agreement and LOC and now Siachen. Why should the blood of Indian soldiers are bartered by Politicians?Siachen especially Salotra ridge is important for Pakistan to link with Karakoram highway and China.If only demilitarization o glacier is required, why not Pakistan sign the AGPL?
I think this Siachen give away and the urgency is due to NATO SUPPLY line opening by Pakistan are linked and Pakistan has been playing a very calibrated game.Siachen also serves as training ground for our troops in high altitude warfare.
Dear Anon@ 10.29 pm, absolutely right. That editor should be tried for treason.
the way media is hyping up the issue of Siachen at a time when the Taliban are again gaining more ground with planned withdrawals of US forces from Afghanistan…wont be long before we start seeing action again in J&K.It wont stop with J&K will spread further down in India.It would be unwise from a national security point of view to lose our blood&sweat stained gains in siachen to Pak in the hope of keeping them calm.yeh to Gandhigiri hai aur Gandhigiri se hi hamara Bharat ka batwara hua tha…We are creating further patterns for future splits(Kashmir ke saath Jammu bhi free mil gaya…vaishnodevi darshan = Pakistan passport soon)