Siachen conflict
This is a very important topic in Political Geography. So, here is a concise description of the Siachen conflict. This is sufficient for an Eight marks question.
The Siachen conflict is an absurd 30-year-old conflict between the two neighboring countries: India and Pakistan. In the hostile environment of high altitude, this conflict is an endless war atop the roof of the world. This coldest war has caused the most casualties and imposed tremendous costs on both sides.
Under the Sino-Pakistan Frontier Agreement of March 1963, Pakistan transferred to China 5,180 square kilometers (km) of territory in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir just north of the Siachen area. India does not recognize the agreement and the transfer but China built the Karakoram Highway linking Xinjiang Province with the Northern Areas of Pakistan-controlled Kashmir and providing a port of entry. This development awakened the Indian defense analysts to infer that Pakistan had aspirations to extend its boundary with China to the KKP by taking control of the Siachen area. control of the Siachen area might provide Pakistan with a route to capture the city of Leh and the region of Ladakh with a flanking attack in future conflicts with India. The conventional wisdom of the time included scenarios in which China might join this attack.
The demarcated portion of the LOC ends at NJ 9842 but during the 1970s several world atlases were drawn the LOC running in a northeasterly direction from NJ 9842 toward the KKP. Pakistani maps also began to show the LOC heading in a straight line from NJ 9842 to the KKP, implying that territory north of the line was under Pakistan’s control. This “cartographic aggression” on Pakistan’s part raised suspicions in the Indian Government. Suspicions deepened when the Indian government learned that Pakistan had begun issuing permits to international mountaineering expeditions to enter the Siachen area. Immediately, Indian patrols were sent into the glacier area and they returned with reconnaissance reports of the sporadic presence of Pakistani military personnel.
By early 1984, after intelligence reports indicated extensive Pakistani preparations to occupy the area, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi ordered the Indian army to occupy the Siachen Glacier to preempt its occupation by the Pakistan army in the summer of 1984. By helicopters, Indian forces were airlifted to the Bilafond La and Sia La passes of the Saltoro Range (on 13 April 1984). At the end of this military operation in Siachen India gained more than 2500 sq. km of territory (TIME Magazine).
Since then, the Indian and Pakistani army has been in physical possession of most of the heights on the Saltoro Range. The Indian army has secured its positions on the ridgeline, now called the Actual Ground Position Line (AGPL), at great cost, and does not want to pull back from them unless these positions are physically demarcated jointly on ground and map by both armies, similar to what was done in previous agreements establishing the CFL and LOC. The Indian army’s view is that future violation if happens that must have a reference point. The reason for insisting on demarcation is that after the disengagement process begins, the locations of the vacated posts cannot be disputed. The Pakistan army’s intrusions into the Kargil district of Kashmir in 1999 have hardened the Indian stance on this topic verbal assurance from General Musharraf that the Pakistan army will not occupy posts vacated by the Indian army is extremely difficult to accept.
Therefore, in India’s view, the natural sequence for a final settlement should be a permanent, mutually agreed cease-fire; demarcation of the AGPL on the ground and map; a joint verification agreement that can be practically implemented; redeployment to mutually agreed on positions; and, finally, a political agreement to resolve the dispute. The greatest stumbling block to reaching an agreement on demilitarization is Pakistan’s refusal to allow demarcation of the present positions. From India’s point of view, this is an inescapable first step to pulling out their troops.
Pakistan and India have taken steps toward reducing tension in the Siachen area. On 25 November 2003, India accepted the proposal for an informal cease-fire along the LOC by Pakistan. The cease-fire includes the Siachen conflict zone. Since then firing and bombardment have ceased in this area but the army of both nations is stationed here.
A second encouraging step was the initiation of the Composite Dialogue process (addressed eight topics including Siachen)in January 2004. Experts suggest that a key step toward resolution is disengagement and demilitarization of a mutually agreed area on Siachen.