"There will be no movement on Siachen until there's movement on everything else," predicts a former senior Indian intelligence officer. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh became the first Indian Prime Minister to visit the area, during which he called for a peaceful resolution of the problem. Located close to the Indo-Pak Line of Control (LOC), Siachen Glacier is at an elevation of approximately 18, 875 feet (5,753 m) above the sea level. The glacier system covers an area of approximately 700 sq. Answer at BYJU'S IAS IAS Questions IAS Geography Questions In Which State Is The Siachen Glacier Located In which state is the Siachen glacier located? The Siachen Glacier and adjoining regions receive most of their precipitation from low-pressure systems called western disturbances. It is fed by several tributary glaciers. But from the 2003 ceasefire up until the present day, things remained much as they had before, with India in control of the Siachen Glacier and all of its tributary glaciers, as well as all the main passes and ridges of the Saltoro Ridge. "I bought the German's map and sent it straight to the director general of military operations," says Col Kumar, then in charge of the Indian army's mountain warfare school.
Siachen conflict - Wikipedia He claimed that more than 1,100 Indian soldiers have died defending the Siachen glacier. CHILD, Greg. Sign up for our newsletter and enter to win the second edition of our book. [32][33] The region is also extremely remote, with limited road connectivity. The Siachen Glacier is positioned from northwest to southeast. Minimum winter temperatures range from 20 to 40 C (4 to 40 F). Mixed Emotions: Mountaineering Writings, p. 147. Official figures for maintaining these outposts are put at ~$300 and ~$200million for India and Pakistan respectively. Both countries claim sovereignty over the entire Siachen region. dumped on the glacier, that neither decomposes nor can be burned because of the extreme climatic conditions. In 1949, a Cease-Fire Line Agreement (CFL) was signed and ratified by India, Pakistan and the UN Military Observer Group that delineated the entire CFL. 18 Want to Visit? The Siachen Glacier lies to the south of the great drainage divide that separates the Eurasian Plate from the Indian subcontinent in the glaciated portion of the Karakoram. It saves Indian army from heavy cost of building defence infrastructure in the Nubra valley. Like Atlas Obscura and get our latest and greatest stories in your Facebook feed. The operation was unsuccessful at dislodging Pakistani troops from their positions. A base camp was also struck, that killed two Ladakh scouts. Pakistan Army, in turn, learned of the presence of Ladakh Scouts on the passes during a helicopter recon mission. Even if both sides agree to demilitarize a Pakistani occupation similar to 1999 will make it extremely difficult and expensive for India to reoccupy the glacier. "We came to know the Pakistanis were buying lots of specialist mountain clothing in London," grins Col Kumar. Geography Siachen Glacier. [23][24] Between January 2012 and July 2015, 33 Indian soldiers died due to adverse weather. But despite several ceasefire agreements, India and Pakistan have never officially demarcated the "line of control" in the extreme north of Kashmir, including the Siachen. VideoThe surprising truth about frozen fruit, What Titan sub wreckage can tell us about the tragedy. [77], In 2011, 24 Indian soldiers died on the Siachen glacier from the climate and accidents. The inhospitable terrain beyond point NJ9842 was not demarcated, simply because U.N. officials didnt think either country would ever dispute such a barren region. Pakistan, meanwhile, holds posts at lower elevations along the spurs of the Saltoro ridgeline. Virtually hidden from public view, the world's highest conflict is moving into its fourth decade. He interacted with the Indian soldiers deployed in Siachen and commended their courage. [79][80], "Siachen" redirects here. The Siachen Glacier is located in the north central part of Jammu and Kashmir near the Indo - Tibet border. In 1977, an Indian colonel named Narendra Kumar, offended by international expeditions venturing onto the glacier from the Pakistani side, persuaded his superiors to allow him to lead a 70-man team of climbers and porters to the glacier. The Siachen Glacier is part of Ladakh, which has now been converted into a Union Territory. The Siachen Glacier has been the focus of a territorial dispute between India and Pakistan. "It's been a shocking waste of men and money", says a former senior Indian army officer and Siachen veteran. A retired Pakistani colonel later admitted they had blundered by using the same store as the Indians. Siachen is a symbol of the worst aspects of their relationship."[57]. [66] Some scientists of the Defence Research and Development Organisation who went on an expedition to Antarctica are also working to produce a bacterium that can thrive in extreme weather conditions and can be helpful in decomposing the biodegradable waste naturally. Over 3 miles up in the Himalayas this pass is one of the highest drivable roads in the world. [19] UN officials presumed there would be no dispute between India and Pakistan over such a cold and barren region. There are numerous negotiations between both parties but have shown no significant progress, the process was further complicated when Pakistan violated ceasefire line in 1999 and built bunkers on Indian side and started artillery fire on Indian strategic highways resulting in 1999 Kargil War. The Nubra flows 90 km (60 miles) before its confluence with the Shyok River, which in turn drains into the approximately 3,200-km- (2,000-mile-) long Indus River. India took control of the 70-kilometre-long (43mi) Siachen Glacier and its tributary glaciers, as well as all the main passes and heights of the Saltoro Ridge immediately west of the glacier, including Sia La, Bilafond La, and Gyong La. It is the Second-Longest glacier in the World's Non-Polar areas. [37] For his role in the assault, Subedar Bana Singh was awarded the Param Vir Chakra India's highest gallantry award. The idea of declaring the Siachen region a "Peace Park" was presented by environmentalists and peace activists in part to preserve the ecosystem of the region badly affected by the military presence. But at first, he complains, Indian generals would not take him seriously. Most of India's many outposts are west of the Siachen Glacier along the Saltoro Range. It is located in the eastern Karakoram range in the Himalaya Mountains at about 35.421226N 77.1095
Siachen Glacier - India / Pakistan - Atlas Obscura It also enables India to monitor the Gilgit and Baltistan regions of Pakistan. A Pakistani counter-attack led by a Brig Gen Pervez Musharraf a few years later was one of several that failed to dislodge the Indians. In 2012, Chief of Army Staff of the Indian Army General Bikram Singh said that the Indian Army should stay in the region for strategic advantages, and because a "lot of blood has been shed" by Indian armed personnel for Siachen. [21] is the second addendum to the 1949 Karachi Agreement, and shows the CFL marked on the Map of the State of Jammu and Kashmir as per the explanation of CFL in paragraph 'B' 2 (d) of the Karachi Agreement. Pakistan controls the glacial valleys immediately west of the Saltoro Ridge. At 76 kilometers, the Siachen Glacier is Karakoram Ranges longest glacier and the worlds second-longest non-polar glacier. [67] After the Kargil War, India decided to maintain its military outposts on the glacier, wary of further Pakistani incursions into Kashmir if they vacate from the Siachen Glacier posts. Since a ceasefire deal in 2003, the Pakistanis have given up trying. This operation led by the Pakistan Army led to the first armed clash on the glacier on 25 April 1984. The Siachen Glacier lies immediately south of the great drainage divide that separates the Eurasian Plate from the Indian subcontinent in the extensively glaciated portion of the Karakoram sometimes called the "Third Pole". Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Siachen on 23 October 2014 to celebrate Diwali with the troops and boost their morale. In the late 1970s Col. Narinder (Bull) Kumar, a mountaineer in the Indian Army, saw a U.S.-drawn map of northern Kashmir that showed the Siachen Glacier as part of Pakistan. More than 2000 people have died in this inhospitable terrain, mostly due to weather extremes and the natural hazards of mountain warfare. The destruction of Kauser Base induced Pakistani troops to vacate Chumik posts concluding Operation Ibex. The acquisition of key supplies needed for operations in glaciated zones marked the start of major combat operations on the glacier. Updates? Consider supporting our work by becoming a member for as little as $5 a month. "[This quote needs a citation], The line between where Indian and Pakistani troops are presently holding onto their respective posts is being increasingly referred to as the Actual Ground Position Line (AGPL).[53][54]. It lies on the northeast of the northernmost point of the Line of Control between Pakistan and India in the disputed Kashmir region. 1999 Kargil war was also an attempt to restrict supply route to Ladakh and Siachen. By the 2003 ceasefire, around 2,000 men had died, most of them from frostbite, avalanches, and other effects of the extreme environment, rather than from actual fighting. The Siachen Glacier is considered the worlds highest battleground, with India and Pakistan fighting there since 1984. [73] In addition, the Indian Army's Army Mountaineering Institute (AMI) functions out of the region. In 195658, a scientific team led by the Geological Survey of India recorded its findings publicly including information about the Siachen and other glaciers.[25]. 2023 Atlas Obscura. "[57] Stephen P. Cohen compared the conflict to "a struggle between two bald men over a comb. The problems of reinforcing or evacuating the high-altitude ridgeline have led to India's development of the Dhruv Mk III helicopter, powered by the Shakti engine, which was flight-tested to lift and land personnel and stores from the Sonam post, the highest permanently manned post in the world. [8][7][97], From 18 to 30 November 2019, 6 Indian soldiers and 2 Indian civilians porters were killed as result of an avalanche in the northern and southern part of Siachen glacier.[98][99]. How Many Countries Are There In The World? At the glaciers snout, two proglacial meltwater streams emerge, and eventually they combine into a single stream, thus forming the Nubra River in the Indian union territory of Ladakh.
It is predicted that the glaciers of the Siachen region will be reduced to about one-fifth of their 2011 size by 2035. Title of UN document number S/1430/Add.2 which illustrates the CFL as per the Karachi Agreement reads: Map of the State of Jammu and Kashmir showing the Cease Fire Line as Agreed Upon in the Karachi Agreement, Ratified by the Governments of India and Pakistan on 29 and 30 July Respectively. Because of the high cost of military outposts, India and Pakistan wish to resolve the territorial dispute. [54] The Indian army is said to have planned a "Green Siachen, Clean Siachen" campaign to airlift the garbage from the glacier, and to use biodigestors for biodegradable waste in the absence of oxygen and freezing temperatures. At the time of their independence from Britain, in 1947, both countries claimed what was then the kingdom of Jammu and Kashmir as their own. The Siachen conflict, sometimes referred to as the Siachen Glacier conflict or the Siachen War, was a military conflict between India and Pakistan over the disputed 1,000-square-mile (2,600 km 2) [12] Siachen Glacier region in Kashmir. [65][66], One of the factors behind the Kargil War in 1999 when Pakistan sent infiltrators to occupy vacated Indian posts across the Line of Control was their belief that India would be forced to withdraw from Siachen in exchange of a Pakistani withdrawal from Kargil. This would perhaps be comforting if the two combatants did not both have nuclear weapons. In 1949, after the 1947 Indo-Pakistani war, India and Pakistan signed the Karachi Agreement, which drew a cease-fire line. It lies in the heavily glaciated Himalayan region known as the Third Pole, because mountain glaciers in this region contain more fresh water than is found anywhere else on Earth except for the polar ice caps. [citation needed], Dumping of non-biodegradable waste in large quantities and the use of arms and ammunition have considerably affected the ecosystem of the region. [26] In February 2016, Indian Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar stated that India will not vacate Siachen, as there is a trust deficit with Pakistan and also said that 915 people have died in Siachen since Operation Meghdoot in 1984. The expeditions are also meant to show to the international audience that Indian troops hold "almost all dominating heights" on the key Saltoro Ridge and to show that Pakistani troops are nowhere near the Siachen Glacier. [87], On the morning of 3 February 2016, ten Indian soldiers including one Junior commissioned officer of the 6th Madras battalion were buried under the snow when a massive avalanche struck their post in the Northern Glacier at a height of 19,600 feet, on the Actual Ground Position Line. Although India administers the entire glacier region as part of the Union Territory of Ladakh, Pakistan also claims the region and controls the area to the glaciers west. This is after all the sub-zero location where Indian army is posted, and fought the . The Indians heard of the Pakistani order and promptly ordered twice as many outfits as the Pakistanis and then rushed their soldiers to Siachen. It originates from the SiaKangri in the Karakoram Range and is approximately 72 Km in length.
Siachen Glacier - Wikipedia [3][17] Between 1984 and 1999, frequent skirmishes took place between India and Pakistan. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. It lies in the Karakoram Range of mountains at .
Siachen Glacier & The Hidden Treasures of Glacier in India [MAP] 2023 By Andrew North. Been Here? "Chen" refers to any object found in abundance. Both countries maintain a permanent military presence in the region at a height of over 6,000 metres (20,000ft). [31][pageneeded], Maps from Pakistan, the United Nations and various global atlases depicted the CFL ending at NJ9842 until the mid 1960s. 1. Follow us on social media to add even more wonder to your day. [40][41] According to TIME magazine, India gained over 1,000 square miles (3,000km2) in territory because of its 1980s military operations in Siachen. In 1978 this expedition climbed Teram Kangri II, claiming it as a first ascent in a typical "oropolitical" riposte. The Chhota Shigri Glacier. The average winter snowfall is more than 1000cm (35ft) and temperatures can dip to 50C (58F). The crest of the Saltoro Ridge's altitudes range from 5,450 to 7,720 m (17,880 to 25,330 feet). The largely inaccessible terrain beyond this point was not demarcated,[19] but delimited as thence north to the glaciers in paragraph B 2 (d) of the Karachi Agreement. [93], On 1 April, Indian General Dalbir Singh and General D. S. Hooda of the Northern Command visited the Siachen glacier in order to boost morale after 17 of its soldiers died in 2016. The glacier itself, meanwhile, continues to suffer from all this human activity. According to a study conducted by the Pakistani Meteorological Department, the glacier size has reduced by about 35% and currently decreasing by 110 meters annually. Both India and Pakistan have wished to disengage from the costly military outposts. Siachen Glacier is located in which district? However, until the 1970s the region was unpopulated.
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