On the Siachen Glacier, 1998

by Harish Kapadia

Part 7: History of Siachen Glacier » Middle Years and Politics

Middle Years and Politics

The Second World War put an end to all climbing activities in this area for a few decades. This was followed by the turmoil of the Indian Independence and the glacier was left alone for a long time. With the India-China War of 1962 in the east of the Siachen glacier, the entire area was now restricted, even for the Indian mountaineers and no record of any visits exists. It is known that some parties from the Indian security agencies visited Bilafond la.

In the 1971 war Indian troops defeated the Pakistani forces. The Shyok valley in Ladakh was also scene of action. After the war, talks were held in Shimla to sign an agreement about the demarcation of borders. In this "Shimla Agreement", the Line of Control was demarcated till the Shyok river, to what is known as Border Stone NJ 9842. For the areas to the north of this point, it was agreed that the Line of Control shall follow the lines of the glaciers. It was not specified which glacier line will be the border. This ambiguity about exact definition of the border is the reason for todays conflict.

The conflict in the Siachen glacier may not have taken place at all if Mrs. Indira Gandhi has pressurised Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Prime Minister of Pakistan to sign an agreement demarcating the borders along the Siachen glacier, as it is now. She was advised to do so by the Secretaries. A besieged Bhutto pleaded with Mrs.Gandhi that his word be trusted to do this at a later date, as did not want to come under attack from his military generals. Aap muz par bharosa kijiye , he said. (You must trust me). The ambiguity about the borders was left. But soon maps appeared encompassing the Siachen under Pakistan territory.

To support their claim, from 1972 to 1983, Pakistan promoted and permitted many expeditions on the Siachen glacier. These expeditions generally crossed over either Gyong la, Bilafond la or Sia la to enter the glacier. These expeditions of foreign nationalities were accompanied by Pakistani liaison officers. They climbed many peaks on the glacier. Singhi Kangri, Teram Kangri, Apsarasas, Ghent and Saltoro Kangri I were climbed. Thus mountaineers became political pawns and their climbs, originating from Pakistan created a precedent of its de facto control over the glacier. During this period, three expeditions from the Indian Army climbed on the glacier. The first expedition was in 1978, when a team led by Col. N. Kumar arrived on the glacier and climbed Teram Kangri II. Col. Kumar returned to the glacier in 1981 to climb Saltoro Kangri I with many other peaks. He reached the true Indira Col (west) at the head of the glacier. In between these climbs an army team had climbed Apsarasas.