Should India accept Kayani’s proposal of demilitarising the Siachen glacier?

GN Bureau | April 19, 2012



Pakistan chief of the army staff Ashfaq Parvez Kayani has called for demilitarisation of the Siachen glacier for the development of Pakistan and environmental concerns. He wants the military and civil leaderships of India and Pakistan to discuss the issue for peaceful coexistence. Kayani suggested that this would also bring down the defence expenditures of the two countries.

These words sound good but also bring back the memory of Kargil to our minds when India was caught unawares. A betrayal which is still fresh in our memory. But if troops are withdrawn from either side, it will augur friendly ties and may be a step towards ending the trust deficit between the two countries.

 

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