India-Pak talks fail to break deadlock over Siachen glacier

TOI

NEW DELHI: June 12: 2012: Unable to break the deadlock on the Siachen Glacier-Saltoro Ridge imbroglio, India and Pakistan on Tuesday reaffirmed their "resolve to make serious, sustained and result oriented efforts for seeking an amicable resolution" of the dispute.

 

In a joint statement issued at the end of the two-day defence secretary level talks in Rawalpindi, it was agreed to continue dialogue on Siachen in keeping with the desire of the leaders of both countries for early resolution of all outstanding issues.

 

Both sides acknowledged that the ceasefire was holding since 2003.

 

While the Indian delegation at the 13th round of talks was headed by Shashikant Sharma, Nargis Sethi led the Pakistani side.

 

It was agreed that the next round of talks on Siachen will be held in New Delhi on mutually convenient dates, to be fixed through diplomatic channels.

 

As reported by ToI earlier, India wanted Pakistan to first agree to the three sequential "pre-requisites" of authentication, delineation and demarcation of the respective troop positions on the Saltoro Ridge before any military pullback plans can be discussed.

 

The Indian Army has cautioned the UPA government against any concessions in the face of Pakistani intransigence in providing iron-clad guarantees for even verifying the 110-km Actual Ground Position Line (AGPL).

 

Defence minister A K Antony himself had asserted that "dramatic decisions" should not be expected from the talks.

 

India told Pakistan to first "authenticate" the respective troop positions on the AGPL along the Saltoro Ridge since Indian soldiers occupy almost all the "dominating" posts there and Pakistani soldiers are three to seven km away from the glacier.

 

Second, the authentication process will have to be followed by proper "delineation" both on the map as well as on the ground. This, in turn, will lead to the final "demarcation" of the agreed border. India will only then "consider" the proposed "disengagement" and "redeployment" of troops from the heights varying from 16,000 to 22,000-feet.

 

With better infrastructure and supply lines in place, the Army is no longer haemorrhaging like it did in the early years after its "Operation Meghdoot" in April 1984 pre-empted Pakistan’s `Operation Ababeel’ to occupy the icy heights.