Echelons of bravery

Siachen has once again been thrown into the limelight following the recent spate of unfortunate incidents. This year alone, 14 soldiers died in last two months while 41 died in last three years at the world’s highest battlefield.

Among the first major mishaps this year, 10 soldiers were buried in snow after an avalanche hit their post located 19,000 feet above the sea level on the southern side of the glacier.

Six days later, one of the Army personnel, Lance Naik Hanumanthappa Koppad was found alive but he succumbed to multiple-organ failure on February 11 at an Army hospital in New Delhi. Siachen seems to be a big challenge for the Army.

Recently, about 60 army men cut through many layers of frozen snow and hard ice in an attempt to rescue a porter, who had fallen into a deep crevasse in the Siachen glacier. At the world's highest battlefield, this is a situation that everyone is mentally prepared for every day.

Rescue teams anchored and stabilised the body to prevent it from slipping further into the crevasse, which was about 200 feet deep. Once that was done, they brought up the body to the surface floor of the glacier.

The crevasse that the porter fell into is located at about 19,000 feet above sea level and the temperature inside it would range between -40 and -60 degrees. “Climbing into it for rescue operations is dangerous and requires skilled mountaineering,” an Army personnel, who was part of the operation informed.

This comes only days after the avalanche that killed 10 soldiers and Hanumanthappa, and this isn't something new. In the last 32 years, 915 people have lost their lives at Siachen, which brings the average to about 28 every year. The headcount till February 18 alone this year stands at 14, while it is a certainty that another 14 or even more await such a fate.

The glacier for years has been the highest battleground on Earth, where Pakistan and India have fought intermittently. India and Pakistan have a disputed border in Jammu and Kashmir, most of it delineated as the Line of Control (LoC) with troop positions on either side.

While most positions were delineated as per the 1972 Shimla agreement, the boundary line was specified to only a point called NJ 9842, till the area from where Siachen starts. The agreement stated that after this point, the boundary would proceed “north to the glaciers” without specifying which nation would have control over which area.

“The matter remained non-controversial until the 1980s when the Indian Army discovered that Pakistan was issuing permission to foreign trekking expeditions at Siachen. Indian intelligence agencies found out that Pakistan army under orders from General Zia was planning to conduct a military operation to capture Siachen, from their supplier of High Altitude mountain warfare gear provider in London, (as Pakistan had placed orders for Arctic gear from the same supplier).

This led to the Indian Army launching Operation Meghdoot and Indian troops that belonged to the Kumaon Regiment were air-lifted and moved into the glacier,” wrote author, Parveen Kaswan, on the website, ‘Simply Decoded’.

The Indian Army currently controls the entire 70-kilometer length of the glacier and its tributaries. Apart from this, the army also controls the passes, west of the glacier and has a higher tactical advantage in case Pakistan decides to strike. “This bleeding ulcer has cost us nearly 20,000 casualties in over twenty years and an estimated daily expenditure of two crore,” wrote Maj Gen Sheru Thapliyal in ‘Defence Review’.

He stressed on the statement issued by Lt Gen ML Chibber, who was the Northern Army Commander at the time of occupation of Siachen. Gen Chibber had written on the subject in June 1990, “India’s military occupation of Saltoro passes in spring 1948 was meant only to deter the Pakistanis from getting there first. The Indian Army had no plans for permanent occupation. At the end of the day, the Siachen conflict was a mistake.”

But now, because of the operation Meghdoot and the Kargil war, this glacier has become of prime importance. Even though logically demilitarising the area would save valuable life and resources for the Indian troops, it always leaves them with a question mark.
The Strategic Importance

Why will two countries spend a heavy sum on patrolling a glacier, which has extreme sub-zero temperature with storms sometimes lasting for months and the threat of natural calamities due to its heights? India controls the upper reaches of the glacier and has been maintaining the status quo since 1984.

A withdrawal of troops from Siachen would be an incorrect move, now, because it would send wrong signals to Rawalpindi that cannot be trusted with border incursions. The unwillingness of the Indian army to withdraw from the heights stems from the fear that any step backward in the Siachen sector can bring the Pakistani position forward.

Army officers, who have served on the glacier have many times argued that the Indian dominance of the heights at Siachen gives them leverage and places them at an advantageous position compared to the Pakistani side. They further argue that until there is authentication of position from Pakistani side and a solution to the Kashmir dispute; withdrawal of troops is not feasible.

“The deployments of the army on the heights of Siachen have acted as a deterrent to keep away intruders from the other side. Also, Pakistan has close ties with China, which also shares border with India. China has been instrumental in building the Karakoram highway along with Pakistan and the sealing of the recent agreement on China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) have both also been factors leading to India keeping a strong foot in the glacier.

India has border issues with both Pakistan and China, so in order to check future Pak-Sino attacks; India has to use its tactical strategy at the Siachen glacier; to deter both Pakistan and China,” writes Zainab Akhter in ‘IndianDefenceReview.com’.

The Way Forward

The Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basith asked India to demilitarise the Siachen border. However, the proposal of the Pakistan High Commissioner to withdraw troops from Siachen was rightfully rejected by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and Home Minister Rajnath Singh.

The Defence Minister also told the Lok Sabha that vacating Siachen could lead to a bigger loss of lives and reminded them about the experience in 1984 when India had to evict Pakistan from the strategically critical heights after a bloody fight. Concurring with the defence Minister Brigadier (retired) AG Krishnaiah, a war veteran based in Hyderabad, said that the glacier is strategically very integral part for the country.

If India moves the Army from Siachen then there is a chance that Pakistan and China may intrude making the region of Ladakh and in turn India, vulnerable. “The Karakoram pass is an important location and hence it should not be lost. If we lose this position, Pakistan will link up with the Chinese. If Pakistan gains control in Karakoram pass, entire Ladakh will be threatened. If we lose Siachen then it will become a tough task to regain the region,” he shared.

The Weather
“The weather is pleasant today.” The soldiers at Siachen glacier long to utter these words as the temperature at the glacier reaches -60 degrees. Adding to the woes, the glacier is situated at 5,000 metres altitude and has low atmospheric pressure and oxygen. Siachen has 10 per cent oxygen than the normal. The soldiers posted at the glacier brave the weather conditions, which are not at all suitable for human survival.

There is a great chance of frost bite leading to a huge risk of losing limbs or eyes, yet it is their sheer determination that keeps them going. When a person stays longer at these kinds of altitudes they lose their appetite and eventually weight. Then there are sleep disorders and memory loss these are the common occurrences, in lay man terms the human body deteriorates in such harsh conditions.

There is no fresh food at the glacier; an apple can turn rock solid in just seconds in the cruel weather. All the food supplied is tinned and soldiers drink hot chocolate and similar things to keep their body warm. These are the conditions a soldier goes through while serving at Siachen. Dr Colonel Mohan Kumar, (Retd) a Kargil war veteran who has monitored the Siachen situations says, “In the temperature, which varies from -40 degrees to -60 degrees on a daily basis, many health problems arise.

Most of the soldiers suffer from High Altitude Edema, which is swelling in the lungs and it can turn into a fatal condition. People, who serve there also go through many psychological problems, depression being the major one as soldiers stay there for over three months. Earlier it was six months.” No soldier outlives a thousand chances, but the soldiers patrolling Siachen believe in chance and trust their luck. As citizens we will be forever indebted to these brave hearts, who suffer a great ordeal to keep our borders safe.

Conquering Siachen
The heroic story of Col Narendra ‘Bull’ Kumar dates to 1978, when he took a major expedition to the inhospitable Siachen glacier. This was six years before India launched Operation Meghdoot to thwart Pakistan’s designs on the Siachen glacier. “This was the first major expedition into the unknown. We had some reports that the Americans were showing Siachen as part of Pakistan in their adventure maps,” he was quoted.

The team went from peak to peak, staying ahead of snow avalanches to chart the area. ‘Bull’ Kumar led other expeditions till 1984, losing four toes to frostbite. His sacrifice wasn’t to go waste. On April 13, 1984, Operation Meghdoot finally got under way. Air force choppers, their engines clattering in protest at being pushed to the limits of technological possibility at incredible heights, began to drop soldiers at Bilafond La, which is today part of the Siachen Base Camp. For the first time in history, India had stamped its claim on the Siachen glacier.