Mushahid’s 3-point plan: How ice could thaw on Siachen dispute
Says the long drawn conflict has been a waste of resources
ISLAMABAD:
A parliamentary panel on Wednesday proposed a three-point plan for peace in Siachen, saying that the three decade long conflict has been a waste of human and material resources.
The proposal was presented by Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed, who returned from a visit to the Siachen outpost along with members of the parliamentary panel on Defence.
Terming the perennial standoff between Pakistan and India as “a pointless conflict” the senator called for demilitarization of Siachen, adding that both sides should move towards defusing the confrontation.
For more than 30 years, Pakistan and India have maintained troops and battle positions in freezing cold temperatures on the Siachen glacier. The archrivals have had intermittent skirmishes since 1984 to claim what is known as the world’s highest battlefield.
The senator suggested that both sides should find a formula for pulling back their forces from positions in the icy mountain, adding that Siachen should be converted into a peace park where mountain tourism and expeditions could be encouraged under the supervision of the United Nations environmental Program [UNEP] and World Tourism Organisation [WTO].
He also recommended collaboration on preserving the environment to combat the consequences of climate change and global warming in the region.
“We should learn from the Gyari tragedy, which resulted in the loss of 140 lives,” the senator cautioned. Commenting on the altitude, Mushahid said that “the tallest post is at the height of 22,000 metres and it takes 21 days of slow climbing to reach the peak.”
“They are specially trained troops who can survive such harsh living conditions, with temperatures that dip to minus 50 degrees,” he added.
He said that 90% of casualties are caused by the severe weather, which includes frostbite, lung and chest diseases, loss of memory and depressive episode.
“The most difficult moment is when a soldier falls sick and he has to be evacuated, which is a major logistical exercise,” he added.
Talking about previous efforts to resolve the issue, Mushahid said that they “were sabotaged on three different occasions by the Indian military establishment.”
“On all occasions Indian army chiefs have overruled the political leadership to sabotage any possibility of peace agreement between the two sides over Siachen,” he added.
He said an agreement on Siachen was almost reached in 1989 between then prime ministers Benazir Bhutto and her Indian counterpart Rajiv Gandhi but General V.N. Sharma overruled the agreement. Later in 2005, former Indian PM Dr. Manmohan Singh proclaimed the peak as a “mountain of peace” and publicly sought to convert Siachen into a peace park. However, General J.J. Singh opposed it, citing “security concerns” and termed it “against India’s national interest.”
The Pakistan Muslim League Quaid lawmaker also urged both countries to collaborate on environmental issues, climate change and global warming.
“We should approach issues with a big heart and even take pride in each other’s achievement.”
Praising India for its Mars mission, Mushahid said New Delhi should also take pride in Pakistan’s achievement in areas of science, technology, IT, arts, literature and culture.”
Published in The Express Tribune, October 2nd, 2014.
A parliamentary panel on Wednesday proposed a three-point plan for peace in Siachen, saying that the three decade long conflict has been a waste of human and material resources.
The proposal was presented by Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed, who returned from a visit to the Siachen outpost along with members of the parliamentary panel on Defence.
Terming the perennial standoff between Pakistan and India as “a pointless conflict” the senator called for demilitarization of Siachen, adding that both sides should move towards defusing the confrontation.
For more than 30 years, Pakistan and India have maintained troops and battle positions in freezing cold temperatures on the Siachen glacier. The archrivals have had intermittent skirmishes since 1984 to claim what is known as the world’s highest battlefield.
The senator suggested that both sides should find a formula for pulling back their forces from positions in the icy mountain, adding that Siachen should be converted into a peace park where mountain tourism and expeditions could be encouraged under the supervision of the United Nations environmental Program [UNEP] and World Tourism Organisation [WTO].
He also recommended collaboration on preserving the environment to combat the consequences of climate change and global warming in the region.
“We should learn from the Gyari tragedy, which resulted in the loss of 140 lives,” the senator cautioned. Commenting on the altitude, Mushahid said that “the tallest post is at the height of 22,000 metres and it takes 21 days of slow climbing to reach the peak.”
“They are specially trained troops who can survive such harsh living conditions, with temperatures that dip to minus 50 degrees,” he added.
He said that 90% of casualties are caused by the severe weather, which includes frostbite, lung and chest diseases, loss of memory and depressive episode.
“The most difficult moment is when a soldier falls sick and he has to be evacuated, which is a major logistical exercise,” he added.
Talking about previous efforts to resolve the issue, Mushahid said that they “were sabotaged on three different occasions by the Indian military establishment.”
“On all occasions Indian army chiefs have overruled the political leadership to sabotage any possibility of peace agreement between the two sides over Siachen,” he added.
He said an agreement on Siachen was almost reached in 1989 between then prime ministers Benazir Bhutto and her Indian counterpart Rajiv Gandhi but General V.N. Sharma overruled the agreement. Later in 2005, former Indian PM Dr. Manmohan Singh proclaimed the peak as a “mountain of peace” and publicly sought to convert Siachen into a peace park. However, General J.J. Singh opposed it, citing “security concerns” and termed it “against India’s national interest.”
The Pakistan Muslim League Quaid lawmaker also urged both countries to collaborate on environmental issues, climate change and global warming.
“We should approach issues with a big heart and even take pride in each other’s achievement.”
Praising India for its Mars mission, Mushahid said New Delhi should also take pride in Pakistan’s achievement in areas of science, technology, IT, arts, literature and culture.”
Published in The Express Tribune, October 2nd, 2014.