Siachen Glaciers

World's Highest Battle Ground

Sachen Glacier is highest battleground of the world, where Indian Army personnels are manned at an altitude of 21,000 ft from Mean Sea Level like Bana Post or Phalwan Post. The word "Siachen" in Balti language means "land of red roses" but here on ground nothing grows not even grass. Due to its isolation its also called as "Third Pole" of the world. Surviving here needs a lot of effort and more over continuous Air support, for which IAF pilots do regular sorties to fulfill the basic necessities of the army personals guarding these posts. 

The life on Siachen and the Role of IAF pilots can be seen through this news report. 

http://www.newsx.com/national/38150-newsx-exclusive-report-the-soldiers-of-siachen

Operation Meghdoot  April 13, 1984

The Kumaon Regiment of the Indian Army with cover from the Indian Air Force reached the glacier to occupy two mountain passes at Bilafond La and Sia La while the Pakistan Army could only reach Gyong La. The battle zone was a triangle with point NJ9842 at the bottom, Indira Col due west and Karakoram Pass due east. Indian troops today control two thirds of the area and the world's highest motorable road at Khardung La with a helipad at a place called Sonam, at 21,000 feet. Pakistan overlooks the Nubra and Shyok valleys from the north. Saltoro lies almost exactly due north of Leh and north west of Kargil.

The Saltoro was attained at considerable loss of life, equipment apart from the expenses involved. There were many lives also lost to the harsh climate and the attrition rate was indeed very high in the early days of the campaign. Over time these shortcomings have been removed, the attrition rate is much lower, logistics are nowhere near as nightmarish as they used to be nearly thirty years ago.

Following the avalanche in Skardu which killed 150 Pakistani soldiers, there seems to be renewed talk that India should withdraw from the heights attained with so much sacrifice and at great cost to the nation. Siachen has recently been sneeringly described as 'A struggle of two bald men over a comb' or 'an ego problem between the two armies' and has elsewhere been described by some journalists as a futile war. Let it be said here that no war over one's own territory that is futile.

General Pervez Musharraf's Kargil adventure in 1999 was Pakistan's last attempt to change the ground position militarily and politically. Withdrawing forces from Siachen as a gesture of friendship would mean giving chance to Pakistan to again try and capture this strategically most Important region, which India can't afford to lose.