India, Pakistan wrap-up talks on Siachen Issue
Pakistan Times Staff Report

NEW DELHI (India): India and Pakistan wrapped up two days of high-level talks Friday on ways to demilitarise a strategic Siachen glacier and agreed to meet again to discuss the issue but set no date.

"The two defence secretaries agreed to continue their discussions with a view to resolving the Siachen issue in a peaceful manner," a joint statement issued at the end of the talks in the Indian capital said.

The statement did not specify a date for the resumption of talks about the 20,700-foot (6,300-metre) glacier where more troops have died of frostbite and altitude sickness than in fighting.

World's Highest Battlefield

Siachen, known as the world's highest battlefield, is located in a remote area of Kashmir which is held in part by nuclear rivals India and Pakistan but claimed in full by both.

In-depth

Pakistan and India today agreed to continue their discussions to work out modalities for the disengagement and redeployment of troops on Siachen Glaciers to resolve the issue in a peaceful manner.

The two-day Defence Secretary-level talks between India and Pakistan on Siachen within the framework of the Composite Dialogue, which concluded here, were held in a cordial and constructive atmosphere with frank and candid discussions, said a Joint Press Statement.

Perspective

Pakistani side was led by Defence Secretary, General Hamid Nawaz Khan while India delegation was headed by his counterpart Ajai Vikram Singh at the talks, held on August 5-6, as part of composite dialogue process between the two countries.

"The Military experts of the two sides also met to discuss modalities for disengagement and redeployment of troops," said the Joint Press Statement, released by External Affairs Ministry Spokesman, Navtej Sarna after the talks. New Delhi and Islamabad "agreed to have further discussions," the statement added.

Defence Secretary Meets Mukharjee

Pakistan's Defence Secretary Lt Gen (Retd) Hamid Nawaz Khan called on Indian Defence Minister Pranab Mukharjee and National Security Advisor, J.N.Dixit, added the statement

"Frank and candid discussions were held in a cordial and constructive atmosphere aimed at taking the process forward," the Statement said continuing, both sides assessed positively the ceasefire that has been in effect since November 25, 2003.

Sir Creek Issue

The two-day talks on the issue of Sir Creek started this afternoon with Rear Admiral Ahsan ul Haq Chaudhry, Additional Secretary, Defence Division leading Pakistani side at the parleys.

Earlier, at the two-day crucial parleys at Defence-Secretary level, both sides held detailed discussions on different proposals with focus on demilitarization of Siachen and reduction of troops in the area.

Calling for implementation of an Understanding reached between the two countries in 1989, Pakistan had reiterated its earlier position towards Siachen and stressed for the redeployment of forces in Siachen prior to Simla position.

Pakistan Rejects Indian Plea

While Indian side is understood to have stressed at the talks that the existing position in Siachen should be authenticated, which is not acceptable to Pakistan.

It was also emphasized that the disengagement should take place and areas should be de-militarised.

Very Significant Issue

Diplomatic circles have described the Siachen issue as very important issue, adding it would also be test case for the both sides to resolve their issues through bilateral negotiations in a peaceful manner.

Earlier on his arrival here, Defence Secretary Lt Gen (Retd) Hamid Nawaz Khan had said that Islamabad had a "positive and open" mind on the Siachen issue.

While Vikram Singh, Indian Defence Secretary had told that the exercise was a part of the Composite Dialogue process between the two sides and efforts would be made to resolve all defence related issues.

Pakistan Delegation

The Pakistani delegation, led by Defence Secretary, included Aziz Ahmad Khan, Pakistan High Commissioner, Jalil Abbas Jilani, Director General (South Asia), Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Maj Gen Raza Muhammad Khan, Director General Operations and Planning GHQ, Maj Gen Muhammad Yousuf, DG Military Operations, Maj Gen Jamil ur Rehman Afiridi and Deputy High Commissioner Munawar Saeed.

Indian Team

The Indian team, headed by Defence Secretary Vikram Singh, comprised Arun Singh, Joint secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs, Prthipish Nag, Surveyor General, Shiv Shankar Menon, Indian High Commissioner in Islamabad, Lt Gen A S Bhaiya, Director General Military Operations, Bimal Julka and Gautam Mukhopadhyaya, Joint Secretaries in the Defence Ministry and Maj Gen J S Lidder, Additional DGMO.●