ISLAMABAD: The Chairman of the Senate Defence Committee, Mushahid Hussain Sayed, has criticised the Indian military establishment for sabotaging all efforts for peace in Siachen.

India, he said, had consistently rejected all proposals made by Pakistan for peace in Siachen, even in the aftermath of the Giyari tragedy.

He was addressing the troops during a visit to Siachen along with members of the committee.

About two and a half years ago, an avalanche had killed 140 soldiers and officers of the army in Giyari.

The delegation laid a wreath at the monument for the martyrs of Giyari.

According to a press release, Mr Hussain expressed concern over consequences of climate change and global warming which has adverse consequences in Siachen because of freak weather incidents like the Giyari avalanche.

He urged India to cooperate with Pakistan and other South Asian countries to jointly formulate a regional strategy to cope with the climate change threat.

Mr Hussain presented to army officials a media manual on climate change prepared by the committee.

The senators’ visit was for expressing solidarity, on behalf of parliament and political forces, with the valiant soldiers and officers defending the motherland on the world’s toughest terrain.

Mr Hussain lauded the valour, morale and determination of the troops in performing their duty under extremely difficult conditions when in the peak of winter temperature falls to minus 50 degrees centigrade.

He said the people of Pakistan were proud of their armed forces and could never forget their sacrifices in defending every inch of the country despite being outnumbered by an adversary superior in numbers and weaponry, but not in fighting spirit, morale and motivation.

He told the troops that members of the committee were their voice in parliament and would do their utmost to protect and promote the good name and image of the armed forces, especially their committed role in Siachen.

During their two-day visit, the senators first landed in Skardu where they were briefed army officials before flying to Giyari.

They flew to a strategic military post in Siachen, located at Bilafond-la, at a height of about 17,000 feet, not far from where the Indian army is based at the Line of Actual Contact.

After their return from Bilafond-la, they received another briefing at the brigade headquarters at Goma at a height of about 10,500 feet.

Sabir Ali Baloch, acting chairman of the Senate, and Haji Adeel also addressed the troops and expressed solidarity with and support for the armed forces.

Other members of the delegation were Mohsin Leghari, Abdur Rauf and Dr Saeeda Iqbal.

Published in Dawn, October 1st , 2014