Indo-Pak talks fail; Siachen standoff continues

[illusion8]

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Islamabad: India and Pakistan were on Tuesday unable to make any forward movement in ending the military standoff on Siachen, merely committing themselves to "serious, sustained and result-oriented efforts" for an amicable settlement of the issue over the world's highest battlefield.

"Both sides reaffirmed their resolve to make serious, sustained and result-oriented efforts for seeking an amicable resolution of Siachen," said a joint statement issued at the end of the two-day talks on the issue here.

It was agreed to continue the dialogue on Siachen in keeping with the desire of the leaders of both countries for early resolution of all outstanding issues, the statement said.

The two countries "acknowledged that the ceasefire (in Siachen) was holding since 2003."

They further agreed that the next round of talks on Siachen would be held in New Delhi on mutually convenient dates to be fixed through diplomatic channels.



Emerging from talks with a delegation led by her Indian counterpart Shashikant Sharma, Pakistan's Defence Secretary Nargis Sethi said Islamabad wants both sides to simultaneously pull out troops from Siachen.

The deployment of troops on the glacier is affecting the environment and talks on the issue should be speeded up, she told reporters.

During the talks, the two sides "explained their respective stances" and reiterated stated positions, diplomatic and official sources from both sides told PTI.

The second day of talks today was largely devoted to working out the joint statement, the sources said.

The joint statement said the talks were held in a "cordial and friendly atmosphere."

According to Pakistani media reports, the Pakistani side renewed its call for demilitarising the Siachen glacier and pulling back troops to the positions in 1984.

The Pakistani side further called for the resolution of the issue in the light of arrangements discussed in 1989 and 1992.

The Indian government has made it clear that any settlement must include the authentication and demarcation of current military positions on Siachen.

The move is aimed at thwarting the possible re-induction of troops by Pakistan after any demilitarisation of the glacier.

Pakistan's Defence Minister Naveed Qamar told The Nation daily: "There is a realisation among both the sides that confrontation would lead to very negative implications that hinder economic and social development.

"Peace is the ultimate solution to bring prosperity to the region. Pakistan and India need to keep peace measures intact so as to eradicate misgivings and move on. Cooperation is the key to success," he added.

During a meeting with the Indian delegation yesterday, Qamar called for the amicable resolution of all issues between India and Pakistan.

He said it was in the interest of both countries to "seek the amicable resolution of all the outstanding issues, including Siachen, as it would tremendously contribute" to peace and prosperity in South Asia.

Islamabad has stepped up calls to demilitarise the Siachen glacier in the wake of an avalanche that killed 139 people at a high-altitude Pakistan army camp on April 7.

The two-day talks on Siachen, part of the resumed dialogue process between India and Pakistan, were held at the Defence Ministry in the garrison city of Rawalpindi.

Despite Pakistan army chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani's call for the resolution of the Siachen issue after the avalanche, analysts had said the two sides were unlikely to make progress on ending the standoff that began in 1984.

Ahead of the talks, Indian Defence Minister AK Antony too cautioned against expecting any "dramatic announcement or decision" at the meeting of the Defence Secretaries.

Stung by the occupation of strategic heights in the Kargil sector in 1999, India has insisted on the authentication and demarcation of current positions on Siachen.

Indian and Pakistani troops have been engaged in a standoff on Siachen, described as the world's highest and coldest battlefield, since 1984.

The guns have largely been silent since late 2003, when the two countries put in place a ceasefire along the frontiers in Jammu and Kashmir, and more troops have died on the glacier due to the adverse weather than combat.

Indo-Pak talks fail; Siachen standoff continues

[agamdilawari]

Nothing surprising...it was very much expected. "Tum hamein gawara nahin...hum tumhein gawara nahin...thodi doori banake rakhna hi accha"

[India defense]

Good News.....

[Invincible INDIAN]

Thank GOD!!! UPA did not make it......

[perplexed]

accha hai... ab is nautanki(siachen demilitarization) ko band karo...

[clmeta]

Siachan is now a permanent standoff.

[KingMamba93]

Not much of a surprise there like they were actually going to agree on even the smallest issue.

[Killswitch]

After Kargil Indians will never again trust the word of Pakistan.

If Pakistan wants our land, they are going to have to fight for it.

[Sergi]

Good news
Keep the status Quo. No need to talk on that. and even not on any subject. Best thing for India and Pakistan is to keep the distance as much as possible. No need of WAR and similarly no need of PEACE & FRIENSHIP.
Leave each other hell alone.

[BATMAN]

No.... talks does not failed, it only proves the pragmatism of Musharraf.
Had there been no Kargil war, there had been no talks at all.

[blackops]

No.... talks does not failed, it only proves the pragmatism of Musharraf.
Had there been no Kargil war, there had been no talks at all.

what is written in that pic

@topic thanks for wasting my tax money

[Jackdaws]

India Pak talks failed? Whoa...I didn't see that one coming.

[JanjaWeed]

Expected.. We all know what A K Anthony said in the parliament couple of months ago... Don't expect any dramatic decision on Siachen!!

[Slayer786]

Well the thing is that the Indian side believe that they can afford to continue the standoff as it has billions of dollars in its coffers. Its economy is strong and vibrant, so it really isnt in a hurry to resolve the issue. Ofcourse, the US$3 million dollar it spends a day in Siachen which comes to more than US$1 billion anually could have been better spent on feeding the more than 500 million indians living below the poverty line and have only 1 meal to eat a day. Obviously, Indans know that if the problem has to be solved than it will lose out as it was the one who occupied the no man's land in 1984.
Pakistan on the other hand has a weak economy and is desperate to solve the issue as it cannot afford the more than US$1 million it spends a day which is around US$300 million anually. That could have been spent on the more than 50 million people living below the poverty line.

Very nice attitude buddy. I really hope that you become a future diplomat or politician. Your insightful thoughts in those few sentences leads me to believe that we all have a very positive outlook for peace in the subcontinent in the future.

[wild_fire1979]

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Well the thing is that the Indian side believe that they can afford to continue the standoff as it has billions of dollars in its coffers. Its economy is strong and vibrant, so it really isnt in a hurry to resolve the issue. Ofcourse, the US$3 million dollar it spends a day in Siachen which comes to more than US$1 billion anually could have been better spent on feeding the more than 500 million indians living below the poverty line and have only 1 meal to eat a day. Obviously, Indans know that if the problem has to be solved than it will lose out as it was the one who occupied the no man's land in 1984.
Pakistan on the other hand has a weak economy and is desperate to solve the issue as it cannot afford the more than US$1 million it spends a day which is around US$300 million anually. That could have been spent on the more than 50 million people living below the poverty line.

Very nice attitude buddy. I really hope that you become a future diplomat or politician. Your insightful thoughts in those few sentences leads me to believe that we all have a very positive outlook for peace in the subcontinent in the future.

I was wondering when the povertyliners will show up And here they are like clockwork!