The Siachen Glacier has reduced by 5.9 km in longitudinal extent between 1989 and 2009 because of rising temperatures, researchers say.
With cricket frenzy peaking in the country during the last week of the World Cup, army jawans posted at remote outposts of the inhospitable Siachen glacier were also not to be left behind -- getting ball-by-ball updates via satellite phones.
The report came a day after the Indian Army announced that it launched "punitive fire assaults" on Pak posts.
Developing relations with the Taliban is needed, but plunging headlong into Afghanistan without due thought will be akin to the rooster entering a KFC outlet, warns Lieutenant General Prakash Katoch (Retd).
Uttam Ghosh offers his take on the ultimate sacrifice by then soldiers of the Madras Regiment on the Siachen glacier, the world's highest battlefield.
The Territorial Army hoisted the national flag underwater at the southern most tip of the country on Sunday, September 22, 2024.
An Army Captain lost his life while 15 other soldiers were rescued after an avalanche struck a patrol party in Siachen Glacier in Ladakh sector of Jammu and Kashmir.
General Upendra Dwivedi, the chief of the army staff, drove to the Army Hospital Research & Referral from his home in the capital to meet an elderly Sikh gentleman who is recovering at the hospital.
There can be forward movement on the Siachen issue if Pakistan is willing to authenticate current troop positions on the glacier, Defence Minister A K Antony said
Army Chief Gen Manoj Pande and all ranks of the force condoled the death of Agniveer, Gawate Akshay Laxman, who hailed from Maharashtra.
Fernandes sent defence ministry officials on familiarisation trips to various parts of Jammu and Kashmir and to the areas bordering China in Arunachal to see for themselves the difficulties faced by border guards.
The pilots, identified as Squadron Leader S Basu and Flight Lieutenant A Sharma, are missing.
Catch the blockbuster Saiyaara on OTT this week along with Rajinikanth's action-packed, Coolie.
Fifty soldiers lost their lives in the Siachen Glacier due to climatic conditions and avalanches in the last three years while 16 soldiers died while serving in United Nations peacekeeping operations during that period, Lok Sabha was informed on Friday.
The death of 10 soldiers earlier this year in an avalanche in the critical Sonam post, located close to the Line of Control with Pakistan, was due to global warming.
Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari on Friday said Pakistan and India should withdraw their troops from Siachen as the military deployment on the glacier has become a burden on the national exchequers of the two countries.
Jet Airways on Friday became the first private airliner to land at Thoise in Siachen
The issue of Siachen is not complicated like the issue of Kashmir; it could be resolved overnight but needs serious consideration, says Tahir Ali.
This would be the defence minister's first visit to the world's highest battlefield after taking over office.
In an unusual remark, Pakistan's Ambassador to the United States Hussain Haqqani has said that one of the reasons for recent devastating floods in his country could be human activity on the heavily-militarised Siachen glacier.
The army confirmed the recovery of the mortal remains of nine soldiers buried under Siachen Glacier avalanche debris on Tuesday evening.
Pakistan Foreign Minister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri has said opening the Siachen glacier for tourist trekking can affect the composite dialogue process between India and Pakistan.
The Nation quoted Kasuri as saying in Islamabad that Pakistan welcomed the statement by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to make Siachen 'a mountain of peace'.
The chopper has been validated for high-altitude, low temperature flying, required to maintain the supply lines for the Siachen region
Indians have joined hands in praying for Lance Naik Hanamanthappa Koppad, who has been in a coma since his rescue on Tuesday.
An army helicopter, on air maintenance operations, crashed Monday morning in the icy heights of Siachen glacier but both the pilots survived the accident and were being evacuated for treatment, army sources said.
"We have given our viewpoint to the government on converting the Saltoro ridge and the glacier into a de-militarized zone," Army Chief General J J Singh told reporters on Tuesday.
Of the 156 LCH, 90 would be for the Indian Army while 66 would be for the Indian Air Force.
The trekking expedition comprising cadets from the National Cadet Corps will set off on a 22-day trip to the glacier.
Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari is hopeful that disputes related to Siachen and Sir Creek will be resolved very soon with India, creating an atmosphere for the two countries to achieve a breakthrough on the long-standing Kashmir issue."All the possible solutions on Kashmir will be discussed first in a parliamentary committee on Kashmir and then the final solution will be approved by parliament," he said.
The defence minister has said that there are no differing opinions on this between India and Pakistan.
One JCO and 9 other ranks of the Indian Army came under the avalanche.
While visiting the world's highest battlefield, Dr Singh said on Sunday that time has to make efforts to convert Siachen into a "peace mountain" but asserted there could be "no redrawing of boundaries".
"These are complicated negotiations," Singh told reporters on the sidelines of Defence Investiture ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in Wednesday.
Notwithstanding Pakistan's vociferous protests, Indian Army will organise a civilian mountaineering and trekking expedition to the forbidding Siachen Glacier for the second year in a row in October-November this year. Even before the planned Siachen trekking kicks off, the Indian Army will take out its own expedition to the glacial heights of Khatling on the Indo-Tibetan border in Uttarakhand later this month.
India and Pakistan have agreed to continue the dialogue in Siachen for early resolution of outstanding issues there, and have reaffirmed the resolve to make serious, sustained and result oriented efforts to seek an amicable solution, the Lok Sabha was informed on Monday.
© 2026 Rediff.com - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Sitemap - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances