Read Editorial with D2G Ep – LXXV

In Read Editorial With D2G
February 10, 2016

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EPISODE – LXXV
TOPIC: Why Siachen must be demilitarised
BLOG: The Hindu
WRITER: The Editorial
GENRE: Editorial

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MEANINGS are given in BOLD and ITALIC

The February 3 avalanche(a mass of snow, ice, and rocks falling rapidly down a mountainside.) on the Siachen glacier that buried 10 Indian Army soldiers is a stark reminder to both India and Pakistan about the cost of military deployment(Move (troops or equipment) into position for military action) in such inhospitable territory. The bodies of most soldiers of the 19 Madras Regiment (rule or government.) are yet to be recovered from the post on the northern part of the glacier, at a height of 19,600 feet. This was not an isolated(far away from other places, buildings, or people; remote.)incident but part of a growing trend in that region, as global warming dramatically affects the glacier. Last month, four soldiers of 3 Ladakh Scouts(a soldier or other person sent out ahead of a main force so as to gather information about the enemy’s position, strength, or movements.) were killed when an avalanche hit a patrol party in the Ladakh region, not very far from the site of the present tragedy. Avalanches are a threat not just to Indian soldiers, but also to the Pakistani troops((of a group of people) come or go together or in large numbers.). In April 2012, in the Gayari sector, 129 soldiers of the 6th Northern Light Infantry of the Pakistani military and 11 civilian contractors were buried by a massive avalanche. It is not just avalanches; the challenging terrain of the glacier and its surroundings as a whole have been regularly claiming lives. According to reliable (consistently good in quality or performance; able to be trusted.) estimates, over 2,000 soldiers from both sides have died on the Siachen glacier since 1984, when India beat Pakistan by a few days to occupy many of the strategic locations on the glacier.

Ever since the two militaries began a costly engagement on the glacier, there have been numerous efforts by both countries to find a way to demilitarise the glacier. In June 1989, they came very close to clinching(confirm or settle (a contract or bargain) a final deal. The two sides had agreed to “work towards a comprehensive(including or dealing with all or nearly all elements or aspects of something.) settlement, based on redeployment of forces to reduce the chance of conflict(a serious disagreement or argument, typically a protracted one.), avoidance of the use of force and the determination of future positions on the ground so as to conform with the Shimla Agreement and to ensure durable peace in the Siachen area”. Ever since then, India and Pakistan have tried diplomatically to find away to demilitarise(remove all military forces from (an area).) the region. However, a lack of political will on both sides has meant that the status quo holds, and soldiers continue to pay a very high price in that remote snowy outpost. India has in the past suggested delineation(the action of describing or portraying something precisely) of the Line of Control north of NJ 9842, redeployment of troops on both sides to agreed positions after demarcating(separate or distinguish from.) their existing positions, a zone of disengagement, and a monitoring mechanism to maintain the peace. Given Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s personal initiative to visit Lahore on Christmas day and to push forward peace with Pakistan, it would only be the next logical step to look at the low-hanging fruits in bilateral issues to build trust. The demilitarisation of Siachen is definitely doable(within one’s powers; feasible.). This is not only because it is diplomatically possible, but also because there is a critical mass of opinion in both India and Pakistan that neither can sacrifice, or put in harm’s way, so many lives on the inhospitable glacier. If the initiative is not seized(take hold of suddenly and forcibly) by both sides now, the vagaries(an unexpected and inexplicable change in a situation or in someone’s behaviour.) of nature will continue to exact a toll on forces deployed in Siachen, even if peace holds.