Why Siachen must be demilitarised

Delhi Law Academy Uncategorized

The February 3 avalanche on the Siachen glacier at a height of 19,600 feet that buried 10 Indian Army soldiers is a stark reminder to both India and Pakistan about the cost of military deployment in such inhospitable territory. This was not an isolated incident but part of a growing trend in that region, as global warming dramatically affects the glacier. 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.

Demilitarisation of Siachen is definitely doable. This is not only because it is diplomatically possible, but also because there is a critical mass of opinion in both India and Pakistan.