Bruce Riedel Proposes a Solution to Siachen Glaceir

[SADAKHUSH]

The landmass of Jammu and Kashmir was, is and will be forever Indian territory. India should start demanding the withdraw of P/A from occupied Kashmir territory. I am in agreement with all the posts.

 

[mayfair]

India expends and inordinate amount of resources maintaining the Siachen outpost. Material expenditure is one thing, but the number of lives lost is rather alarming.

It is a miniscule part of th overall defence budget and even smaller part of our GDP. Loss of lives has come down drastically since we mastered the terrain, developed high altitude capabilities and ramped up the infrastructure. More people die in road accidents in India every day that we may have lost in Siachen in the last 8-10 years

It might not be a bad idea to de militarize the glacier and pull the troops back to the closest habitable plateau. India is adept at satellite technology which can be used to closely monitor the glacier along with air patrols or drones (if that becomes an option in the future). The exorbitant monetary resources used just to maintain the current outpost can be used instead to build a road link and convert conventional mountain unit to become a rapid action force by providing them better technology.

Technology is not infallible as demonstrated many times. We do not have enough statellites or drones to keep watch over that area 24/7. As I mentioned, our operational costs have come down immenesely over the years as we have adjusted to the terrain. Lessons learnt in Siachen have been dead useful in helping us reclaim Kargil from the Pakahnis and in raising the Mountain divisions on the China border. The terrain on the Indian side does not permit road links more than what is already there.

As long as the Indian army can make sure that they can reach the top of the glacier in formidable numbers prior to their Pakistani adversaries there really should be no problem.

The terrain is in Pakhani favour. The access to the glacier and the Saltoro Ridge is much easier from their side than ours. If they and their bosom masters the Chinese occupy the glacier and the ridge, it will be nigh impossible for us to dislodge them from there. We can hardly rush a brigade up there in time that will prevent this disaster from happening. I suppose it will help to familiarise yourself with the geography and the topology of the region

Reidell's recommendations won't amount to much because no international peace keeping force will be willing to sacrifice their personnel to man a border in such an inhospitable area.

Reidel's brain farts are not even worth the paper written on. They are unworkable as inviting a Venezuelan peace keeping force to patrol Florida or Chinese to patrol Harlem.

 

[ejazr]

Not going to happen, but the idea of evolving a SAARC security force is a novel one which India should try to promote. Pakistan can be left out at the moment, but for the long term, it is important that we have mil to mil ties with all SAARC countries and if need be, India could evolve this into a form of a SAARC security community.

 

[Yusuf]

Years of Paki propaganda and inept people on our side has led to people such as Reidel coming up with this horse pucky. What Siachen issue is there to be resolved? India completely own it. India is managing it very well. Reidel has been vocal against paki terror and he should continue to work in that field. Better stay off Indian sovereignty.