siachen glacier is located in which district
[16], The Siachen Glacier is the highest battleground on earth,[17][18] where India and Pakistan have fought intermittently since 13 April 1984. However, until the 1970s the region was unpopulated. [29], The first public acknowledgment of the maneuvers and the developing conflict situation in the Siachen was an abbreviated article titled "High Politics in the Karakoram" by Joydeep Sircar in The Telegraph newspaper of Calcutta in 1982. The conflict has resulted in thousands of deaths, mostly due to natural hazards. Siachen glacier is located in the eastern Karakoram range in the Himalayan mountains. Read about our approach to external linking. Despite a few subsequent skirmishes between Indian and Pakistani forces, India retained control. Peering Over the Edge: The Philosophy of Mountaineering, p. 194. Prior to 1984, neither country had any military forces in this area. World's Highest Battlefield. The post was renamed Bana Post in his honour. [25] In December 2015, Indian Union Minister of State for Defence Rao Inderjit Singh said in a written reply in the Lok Sabha that a total of 869 Army personnel have died on the Siachen glacier due to climatic conditions and environmental and other factors from the date that the Army launched Operation Meghdoot in 1984. Consequently, possession of the Siachen region remained unresolved. [83], On 12 December, an avalanche killed 6 Indian soldiers in the Sub Sector Hanif in Turtuk area, when troops of the 1st Assam regiment were moving between posts. Glaciers can merge together like rivers, and that is the case here. Then in early 1981, Col Kumar was given the go-ahead to map the entire glacier, all the way to the Chinese border. It has retreated significantly in the last 30 years, partly as a result of waste dumping by both sides. CHILD, Greg. This vague formulation further sowed the seed for the bitter dispute to follow.[19]. [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. [52], The glacier was uninhabited before 1984, and the presence of thousands of troops since then has introduced pollution and melting to the glacier. [62] About 1,000 kilograms (1.1 short tons) of waste is produced and dumped in glacial crevasses daily by Indian forces. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. [72], The Siachen glacier and its conflict was depicted in a 48-page comic book, Siachen: The Cold War, released in August 2012. "As we reached the Siachen, Pakistani helicopters were flying over us," Col Kumar smiled, "and they were firing out coloured smoke.". "It's been a shocking waste of men and money", says a former senior Indian army officer and Siachen veteran. [36][37] The present ground positions, relatively stable for over a decade, mean that India maintains control over all of the 76 kilometres (47mi) Siachen Glacier and all of its tributary glaciers, as well as all the main passes and heights of the Saltoro Ridge[38] immediately west of the glacier, including Sia La, Bilafond La, Gyong La, Yarma La (6,100m), and Chulung La[ceb] (5,800m). He was taken to Army Research and Referral Hospital in Delhi. [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. [37] For his role in the assault, Subedar Bana Singh was awarded the Param Vir Chakra India's highest gallantry award. The Indus is used for drinking and irrigation. The Indians heard of the Pakistani order and promptly ordered twice as many outfits as the Pakistanis and then rushed their soldiers to Siachen. The Saltoro Ridge originates in the north from the Sia Kangri peak on the China border in the Karakoram range. The Siachen is just the coldest of several fronts in the frozen conflict over Kashmir, with neither India or Pakistan prepared to take the first step. According to a retired Pakistani army colonel, Pakistan ordered Arctic-weather gear prior to the assault from a London outfitter. [46] TIME states that the Indian advance captured nearly 1,000 square miles (2,600km2) of territory claimed by Pakistan. Follow us on social media to add even more wonder to your day. Follow us on Twitter to get the latest on the world's hidden wonders. "[19] The detailed description of its northern end stated that from Chimbatia in the Turtok sector "the line of control runs north-eastwards to Thang (inclusive to India), thence eastwards joining the glaciers." "[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]. [79], In the early morning of 7 April 2012, an avalanche hit a Pakistani military headquarters in the Gayari Sector, burying 129 soldiers of the 6th Northern Light Infantry battalion and 11 civilian contractors. However, after the Pakistani incursions during the Kargil War in 1999, India abandoned plans to withdraw from Siachen without official recognition of the current line of control by Pakistan, wary of further Pakistani incursions if they vacate the Siachen Glacier posts without such recognition. [58] When, in June 1987, the Indian Army captured the 21,153 foot high "Quaid Post" and renamed it to "Bana Top", in honour of Naib Subedar Bana Singh, Bhutto once again publicly taunted the Pakistani generals, telling them to wear bangles if they cannot fight on the Siachen. It is located in the eastern Karakoram range in the Himalayan mountains. Final resting place for hundreds of prisoners of war. Siachen, which figures among the world's largest mountain glaciers, is on the Line of Control (LoC), which marked the ceasefire line after the 1947-48 war between the two countries in their first war. km, separating Central Asia from Indian Subcontinent. 2023 Atlas Obscura. At army headquarters in Rawalpindi, the discovery of repeated Indian military expeditions to the glacier drove Pakistani generals to the idea of securing Siachen before India did. The Siachen Glacier and adjoining regions receive most of their precipitation from low-pressure systems called western disturbances. This is after all the sub-zero location where Indian army is posted, and fought the . [79][80], "Siachen" redirects here. A fatal avalanche at Siachen Glacier in September 2012 (with Pakistani flag on top of debris). [70][71], Since September 2007, India has welcomed mountaineering and trekking expeditions to the forbidding glacial heights. This time there were no leaks. Most of the Siachen region was thus demarcated, but the line ended at map coordinate NJ 9842, about 60 km (37 miles) south of the tri-border of the two countries with China. [64] The region is home to rare species including snow leopard, brown bear and ibex that are at risk because of the military presence.[66][68]. [78], Sandia National Laboratories organised conferences where military experts and environmentalists from both India and Pakistan and also from other countries were invited to present joint papers. [57] In the twenty-nine-year period 19291958, well before the military occupation, the glacial retreat was recorded to be about 914 metres. The crest of the Saltoro Ridge's altitudes range from 5,450 to 7,720 m (17,880 to 25,330 feet). Mountaineers who visited the area while on climbing expeditions witnessed large amount of garbage, empty ammunition shells, parachutes etc. Both India and Pakistan have wished to disengage from the costly military outposts. The Siachen Glacier is considered the worlds highest battleground, with India and Pakistan fighting there since 1984. On its right flank are five tributary glaciers: Zingrulma, Gyongla, Lolofond, and two that are unnamed. The glacier's region is the highest battleground on Earth,[69] where Pakistan and India have fought intermittently since April 1984. [27] According to official records, only 220 Indian soldiers have been killed by enemy bullets since 1984 in Siachen area. No purchase necessary. The Siachen Glacier is positioned from northwest to southeast. The expeditions have been meant to show the international audience that Indian troops hold "almost all dominating heights" on the important Saltoro Ridge west of Siachen Glacier, and to show that Pakistani troops are nowhere near the 43.5-mile (70km) Siachen Glacier and from 2019 the Indian Army And The Indian Government has allowed the tourists to visit the Siachen Glacier's Indian Army Post. But in the decades following the Karachi Agreement, both India and Pakistan claimed sovereignty over the Siachen area. How Many Countries Are There In The World? US General visited for the purpose of "developing concepts and medical aspects of fighting in severe cold conditions and high altitude". Several tributary rivers of ice flow together, such as the Lolofond and Teram Shehr glaciers, adding their ice to the Siachen Glacier as it winds southeast, where the Nubra River emerges from its terminus. 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. Indian Army launched an operation to preempt the seizure of the passes by the Pakistan Army. 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. To support the troops, glacial ice has been cut and melted with chemicals. Avalanches, crevasses, and adverse weather were responsible for most of the estimated 2,700 Indian and Pakistani troop deaths following Project Meghdoot. Both countries claim sovereignty over the entire Siachen region. Thus, the glacier is a major source of the Indus[51] and feeds the largest irrigation system in the world. Pakistan controls the glacial valleys immediately west of the Saltoro Ridge. "Sia" in the Balti language refers to the rose family plant widely dispersed in the region. [53], Preliminary findings of a survey by Pakistan Meteorological Department in 2007 revealed that the Siachen glacier has been retreating for the past 30 years and is melting at an alarming rate. Read about our approach to external linking. (See Annex 26 to the third Interim Report of the United Nation Commission for India and Pakistan)[22][23]. Both armies, he says, ensure their "heroic narratives" of the conflict dominate by limiting media access to the Siachen. But when he got permission for a counter-expedition in 1978, it quickly leaked across the border. Siachen is located north of Point NJ 9842, the Line of Control's northernmost agreed-upon point. An innovative attempt to break a siege in the American Civil War still scars the earth today. Offer available only in the U.S. (including Puerto Rico). [78], In 2013, 10 Indian soldiers died due to weather conditions. [91], On 17 March, two Indian soldiers from the Chennai-21 regiment were killed, and bodies recovered in 12-feet deep ice. The major passes on this ridge are, from north to south, Sia La at 5,589m (18,336ft), Bilafond La at 5,450m (17,880ft), and Gyong La at 5,689m (18,665ft). Thirty years later, the two sides remain locked in a stand-off, but the Indian army mountaineer who inspired the operation says his country must hang on whatever the cost. Siachen Glacier is located in which district? Other records created by this strange conflict include the worlds highest helipad and the worlds highest telephone booth, both installed on the glacier by India. The area including the Siachen Glacier was inaccessible and thus left unmapped. However, India insists that Pakistan must recognize the current line of control for it to withdraw from the area. [73] In addition, the Indian Army's Army Mountaineering Institute (AMI) functions out of the region. 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. Pakistan was indeed planning to launch a strike, but it made a bizarre error. Official figures for maintaining these outposts are put at ~$300 and ~$200million for India and Pakistan respectively. It appeared the Americans had cartographically ceded a large chunk of the eastern Karakoram to Pakistan, including the Siachen glacier. Kent L. Biringer, a researcher at Cooperative Monitoring Center of Sandia Labs suggested setting up Siachen Science Center, a high-altitude research centre where scientists and researchers from both the countries can carry out research activities[75] related to glaciology, geology, atmospheric sciences and other related fields. [45], In his memoirs, former Pakistani president General Pervez Musharraf states that Pakistan lost almost 986 square miles (2,550km2) of territory that it claimed. [28][full citation needed], In 1978 a German Siachen-Kondus Expedition under the leadership of Jaroslav Poncar (further members Volker Stallbohm and Wolfgang Kohl, liaison officer major Asad Raza) entered Siachen via Bilafond La and established the base camp on the confluence of Siachen and Teram Shehr. [31][pageneeded], Maps from Pakistan, the United Nations and various global atlases depicted the CFL ending at NJ9842 until the mid 1960s. [29][30][31], Aside from the Indian and Pakistani military presence, the glacier region is unpopulated. R. K. Nanavatty launched an artillery attack on Kauser Base, the Pakistani logistical node in Chumik and successfully destroyed it. Besides, the troops also dump large amounts of wastes, including non-biodegradable material. On 25 June 1987 Indian Army under the leadership of Brig. [4][45][46][47][48] According to the Indian stance, the line of separation should continue roughly northwards along the Saltoro Range to the west of the Siachen glacier beyond NJ9842;[49] international boundary lines that follow mountain ranges often do so by following the watershed drainage divide[43] such as that of the Saltoro Range. See. [71] Both of them showed their commitment to resolve the Siachen conflict as early as possible. The Shyok River feeds into the 3,180km long Indus River, which is the source of water for the worlds largest irrigation system. [40][41], March May 1989: In March 1989 Operation Ibex by the Indian Army attempted to seize the Pakistani post overlooking the Chumik Glacier. The glacier is claimed by both India and Pakistan, with a large deployment by both sides. This and rubbish left by previous climbing teams convinced him the Pakistanis were stealthily taking over. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Virtually hidden from public view, the world's highest conflict is moving into its fourth decade. [32] This line was replicated on US, Pakistani and other maps in the 1970s and 1980s,[33][34][35] which India believed to be a cartographic error.[29]. We depend on ad revenue to craft and curate stories about the worlds hidden wonders. In 1949, military representatives of India and Pakistan signed the U.N.-mediated Karachi Agreement, establishing a cease-fire line in Kashmir following the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947. The same day, a single avalanche hit a Pakistani military camp in Bevan sector, killing 8 soldiers. [6][7][8][9] Pakistan maintains a territorial claim over the Siachen Glacier[10] and controls the region west of Saltoro Ridge, lying west of the glacier,[11] with Pakistani posts located 3,000ft below more than 100 Indian posts on the ridge.[12][13]. [5] It falls from an altitude of 5,753m (18,875ft) above sea level at its head at Indira Col on the IndiaChina border down to 3,620m (11,875ft) at its terminus. A. Gilgit. The entire Siachen Glacier, with all major passes, has been under the administration of India as part of the union territory of Ladakh, located in the Kashmir region since 1984. Effects of climate change were being felt as well, as faster-melting snows made living near the ice more hazardous. 1999 Kargil war was also an attempt to restrict supply route to Ladakh and Siachen. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Siachen on 23 October 2014 to celebrate Diwali with the troops and boost their morale. State in which the Siachen Glacier is Located State in which the Siachen Glacier is Located The Siachen glacier is a piedmont glacier in the Karakoram mountain range. In 1949, after the 1947 Indo-Pakistani war, India and Pakistan signed the Karachi Agreement, which drew a cease-fire line. 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. But though both sides are now better at coping with the extreme environment, it still claims the lives of dozens of soldiers each year. [57] [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. By Andrew North. It is fed by several tributary glaciers. Higher elevations remain at subzero temperatures for up to 90 percent of the year. The military presence has also put rare species at risk, including snow leopards, brown bears, and ibex, who called the Siachen Glacier home long before the arrival of the two rival nations. It falls from an altitude of 5,753 m (18,875 ft) above sea level at its head at Indira Col . 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. General Ved Prakash Malik, in his book Kargil from Surprise to Victory, wrote: Siachen is considered a military setback by the Pakistan Army. Pakistan granted a number of permits. [78] On 22 July, two Indian officers burned to death when a fire caught on their shelter. Then, in 1983, India began receiving intelligence reports warning of an imminent Pakistani incursion into the region, and a potential assault on the Saltoro Ridge, a strategic location on the southwest side of the Siachen Glacier.
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