Environment first: India should withdraw Siachen troops, says Sartaj

Adviser to PM cites water scarcity in Pakistan as major factor.

Adviser to the Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz said on Wednesday that Indian forces are damaging the virgin snow of Siachen – one of Pakistan’s main sources of water – on a daily basis, and called for India to pull out its troops.

In an interview with Radio Pakistan, Aziz said the presence of Indian forces on Siachen is a threat to Pakistan’s environment, which largely depends on water from the glacier.

The adviser termed the Indian soldiers’ presence a ‘big issue’ and pressed India to withdraw its troops. He also said thousands of Indian troops dispose items which threaten the continuation of the glacier.

Glacial retreat is a phenomenon that scientists usually attribute to global warming – caused by an increase in the atmospheric concentration of greenhouse gases due to human activities such as deforestation.

But some experts have rejected the notion that unprecedented melting in Himalayan glaciers can be attributed merely to global warming. In 1999, the Military Engineering Services of India reported that the military presence in Siachen is devastating for the glacier.

In his interview, Aziz said the water issue would be resolved through multiple channels, citing Pakistan-India composite dialogue and Indus Water Commission.

He emphasised the repercussions of water scarcity in light of climate change and stressed that Pakistan should conserve water.  He talked about the recently formed Senate committee on water related issues and added that it would suggest recommendations.

Aziz further said that in its 2025 vision, the Planning Commission will focus on water resources and prepare a comprehensive sustainable development strategy to tackle the issue of water scarcity.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 5^th, 2013.