NEW DELHI, June 12: Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said during a visit to the Siachen glacier on Sunday it was time to convert the world’s highest battlefield into a “peace mountain”. Mr Singh is the first prime minister to visit Siachen, between 18,000 and 22,000 feet (5,400-6,600 metres) above sea level.
There has been no fighting on Siachen since 2003, when a ceasefire came into effect between Indian and Pakistani troops. But thousands have died in the past two decades with more soldiers killed by sub-zero temperatures, the high altitude and accidents than enemy action.
“The time has come that we make efforts that this battlefield is converted into a peace mountain,” Mr Singh, 72, told troops stationed there.
Mr Singh reiterated there could be no redrawing of boundaries in the divided Himalayan region of Kashmir, over which the neighbours have fought two wars.
India refuses any change in the existing frontier, while Pakistan refuses to accept the ceasefire line — or Line of Control — as an international border.
“We are not ready to accept any changes in this country’s existing borders,” Mr Singh said.
“We feel these boundaries are not just necessary for our security, but they are also related to the honour and security of our country.”
A ceasefire has been in place in Siachen and along the rest of the Kashmir border since 2003 as part of a gradual but steady peace process between the nuclear powers.
The overall peace process began in earnest in early 2004. It has moved slowly, but a recent meeting in New Delhi between Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf and Singh went off well and has fed hopes of more progress.
Mr Singh flew in a military helicopter into Siachen which is at the crossroads of territory claimed by Pakistan, India and China, PTI reported.
He shook hands with soldiers and thanked them for their service on the glacier, where they have to deal with sub-zero temperatures, altitude sickness and hostile fire.
Mr Singh on the last day of a three-day visit to occupied Kashmir, underwent a health check before travelling to the region where the high altitude can cause sickness and even death.
Thousands of Pakistani and Indian troops are eyeball-to-eyeball atop the glacier, but more troops have died from the icy temperatures, altitude and accidents than from enemy fire.
“How long shall we allow such conditions to prevail (in Siachen),” he said, adding: “Now the time has come for us to make efforts to convert this battlefield into a peace mountain.” He added that talks were going on with Pakistan in this regard.
The prime minister said India would soon take up with China the issue of opening up of the route to Kailash-Mansarovar through Ladakh in Jammu and Kashmir. When asked by reporters at Leh airport whether there was any hope of the Ladakh route opening up, he said: “We will make an effort.” He added: “Our relations with China are improving. We will raise this issue (opening of the route) with them in talks.” Dr Singh had said on Saturday that India would favour opening up of the Ladakh route for pilgrims .—Agencies