Close To Madness

I was going through few old articles about Siachen Glacier. It has a very fascinating story, about two nations who raced towards the peak in a fight of who will reach up first. Due to tactician and quick intelligence reports India managed to occupy the top. Two countries fighting the war in -50 degree Celsius temperature. It is good to read the fact but it is unimaginably difficult to live up there and fight a war which has no end or may be no end in the near future.

Once, a VIP made a visit to Siachen Glacier accompanied with Indian Army Chief. It was a 7 minutes visit which was leaked out by few media persons. The VIP had very less interaction with the troops and it was a tick mark made by him on his list of visiting places. When he sat down in helicopter to make his way back, he asked the Army Chief, ‘General, don’t you think that it is waste of time, money and resources to occupy barren ice on such huge height?’ May be general did not prefer to answer his question or even the General never gave a thought about it. This story which I don’t know is how much true, made me think that what is the tactical significance of Siachen Glacier.

 

I made some research through old defence journals and opinions of qualified defence analyst of India as well as Pakistan. Most of them admitted in their articles and on record statement that Siachen has no military or economic importance. But after researching the geography of the disputed region, I came to know that, it is important for both of the nation.

Siachen glacier is a frozen river passing through the valley. It has a snout which gives birth to the river Nubra which passes through the Nubra or Nobra valley and mates with Shyok River. This river enters Pakistan and becomes a water source for them. History has taught us to fight a war soldiers need water and food which is the decisive thing. If the Pakistan gains control over the Siachen then they will be able to command the water source giving them a psychological advantage over India. For India ‘no loss of ground is acceptable’ is the strategy. Practically, they can control the water entering the Pakistan through the Shyok River and also these rivers contribute in a big way for the development and survival of the Ladakhi people living in the Nubra valley.

The Siachen Glacier

The geography says it all, why these two nations are ready to fight the war in the circumstances where the life is not possible. Siachen can also open up the route for terrorist to enter India which analyst considers as rare but possible threat. Whatever the case is, the war in these circumstances only suggests that things have reached very CLOSE TO MADNESS.