The strategic advantage accruing to India in Siachen should not be given up for apparent short-term political gains. Giving up Siachen as a gesture of friendship would also mean that its recapture would be extremely expensive to India in men and material, says Vikram Sood.
Dr Singh announced that two home theatres and a CT scan facility will soon be provided in Siachen.
The Army, stated that "in view of conflicting messages on social media regarding financial assistance to the Next of Kin of the deceased, it was important to clarify that emoluments due to the Next of Kin were governed by the relevant terms and conditions of service of the soldier".
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.
Ahead of its key talks with India on the Siachen issue, Pakistan has claimed that the biggest hurdle in resolving the military standoff on the world's highest battlefield are the armies of the two countries.
An army pilot was killed and another injured on Wednesday when the Cheetah helicopter they were flying crashed on the Siachen glacier, the world's highest battlefield. The crash occurred at 11.45 am near Bhim post of the army in Siachen glacier, in which one of the pilots died and another was injured, an army spokesperson said.
Notwithstanding Pakistan's vociferous protests, the Indian army on Wednesday launched a civilian mountaineering and trekking expedition to the forbidding Siachen Glacier for the second year in a row.The 21-day expedition is meant to show to the international community that Indian troops hold the 72-km-long Siachen Glacier in the Saltoro Ridge region of Jammu and Kashmir, and Pakistan was nowhere near it.
Over 100 soldiers were hit by avalanche at Pakistan army base in Siachen on early Saturday morning, said a security official.
In view of the heightening tension with Pakistan, the central government on Tuesday rushed Army chief General Deepak Kapoor to Siachen Glacier and forward areas of Jammu and Kashmir to check the operational preparedness of the troops. He will be there for a day to interact with unit commanders and senior officers before returning to New Delhi after taking stock of the situation.
For the Indian Army, Siachen symbolises a superhuman feat of arms, sustained over decades. All that Indian Army generals are hoping is that all their effort is not undone by the latest round of Indo-Pak talks on Siachen, reports Ajai Shukla
His condition is critical but stable and he is undergoing various tests in the hospital, army sources said.
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.
'Disengagement is merely the first step in a lengthy process of arriving at a new normal along the LAC in Eastern Ladakh and the entire land boundary.' 'The Indian government should insist on the restoration of the status quo ante in Eastern Ladakh.'
Fortunately, there was no cold exposure-related frost bite or bony injuries to him, a medical bulletin issued by the hospital said.
The body of an army jawan, who had gone missing after an avalanche hit a patrol in Siachen's Turtuk sector in Ladakh region, was recovered from under the snow on Saturday.
Dhruv qualified for high-altitude glacier flying with flying colours on February 15
The two sides also discussed issues related to release of prisoners, trade, confidence-building measures and other matters listed under the composite dialogue process.
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.
The defence minister has said that there are no differing opinions on this between India and Pakistan.
Pakistan has said it remains committed to resolving the Siachen issue.
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.
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".
The army confirmed the recovery of the mortal remains of nine soldiers buried under Siachen Glacier avalanche debris on Tuesday evening.
"These are complicated negotiations," Singh told reporters on the sidelines of Defence Investiture ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in Wednesday.
Pakistan on Monday called for the "amicable resolution" of all issues with India as their defence secretaries began talks to ease the military standoff on Siachen against the backdrop of calls to demilitarise the world's highest battlefield.
India on Saturday said it does not see any link in making progress with Pakistan on the demilitarisation of Siachen glacier with resolving other bilateral issues.
Captain Anshuman Singh sacrificed his life saving the men entrusted to his medical care in the highest traditions of doctors that serve in the military.
The talks were held between Defence Secretary Shekhar Dutt and his Pakistani counterpart Kamran Rasool.
Jet Airways on Friday became the first private airliner to land at Thoise in Siachen
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.
Pakistani media analysts and politicians have called for a review of the deployment of forces at Siachen, where soldiers from the two countries have been engaged in standoff since 1984.
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.
In a video posted by the spokesperson of the ministry of defence on 'X' on Saturday, Smriti shared her memories of her husband and how they became soulmates.
A patrol party came under the avalanche at Turtuk area of Siachen, the highest battleground in the world
© 2026 Rediff.com - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Sitemap - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances