Siachen Glacier | Description, Geography, History, Trivia, & Facts The acquisition of key supplies needed for operations in glaciated zones marked the start of major combat operations on the glacier. Although India administers the entire glacier region as part of the Union Territory of Ladakh, Pakistan also claims the region and controls the area to the glaciers west. But from the 2003 ceasefire up until the present day, things remained much as they had before, with India in control of the Siachen Glacier and all of its tributary glaciers, as well as all the main passes and ridges of the Saltoro Ridge. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. All maps, graphics, flags, photos and original descriptions 2023 worldatlas.com. The problems of reinforcing or evacuating the high-altitude ridgeline have led to India's development of the Dhruv Mk III helicopter, powered by the Shakti engine, which was flight-tested to lift and land personnel and stores from the Sonam post, the highest permanently manned post in the world. [3] They returned in or around 1981, climbed several peaks and walked the length of Siachen. The Siachen region is a subject of a territorial dispute between Pakistan and India, with both countries claiming sovereignty over it. [45], In his memoirs, former Pakistani president General Pervez Musharraf states that Pakistan lost almost 986 square miles (2,550km2) of territory that it claimed. Sometimes described as a white snake, the Siachen Glacier is more than 70 kilometers long. The Siachen Glacier is located in the eastern Karakoram range in the Himalayas. [2] It is the highest pass on the ancient caravan route between Leh in Ladakh and Yarkand in the Tarim Basin. It is also one of the highest battlefields in the world, with India and Pakistan both maintaining military outposts on the glacier. Hence, it is also called the "Third Pole". Siachen glacier, located in the eastern Karakoram Range in the Himalayas, is one of the five largest glaciers in the Karakoram, situated at an average altitude of 18,000 ft above sea level. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. [79], In the early morning of 7 April 2012, an avalanche hit a Pakistani military headquarters in the Gayari Sector, burying 129 soldiers of the 6th Northern Light Infantry battalion and 11 civilian contractors. Several tributary rivers of ice flow together, such as the Lolofond and Teram Shehr glaciers, adding their ice to the Siachen Glacier as it winds southeast, where the Nubra River emerges from its terminus. The best starting point would be the demilitarization of the highest battleground on planet earth: the Siachen glacier, on which the armies of the two countries have been lodged since 1984. [10][8][13] Handicapped by the altitude and the limited time, Pakistan could only manage to control the Saltoro Ridge's western slopes and foothills despite the fact that Pakistan possessed more ground accessible routes to the area, unlike Indian access which was largely reliant on air drops for supplies due to the steeper eastern side of the glacier. Consider supporting our work by becoming a member for as little as $5 a month. [26][pageneeded] Five years later a Japanese-Pakistani expedition put two Japanese and a Pakistani Army climber on top of Saltoro Kangri. Snow and Ice, NASA Goddard Space Kumar received permission for a counter-expedition in 1978, and by 1981 he had mapped the entire glacier up to the Chinese border. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. The Indians were informed about this development and initiated their own plan, providing them with a head start. Siachen Glacier Leh Ladakh - Largest Glacier in the World | Ladakh Tour The attack was repulsed by Indian troops. [13][14][pageneeded] A cease-fire went into effect in 2003,[15] but both sides maintain a heavy military presence in the area. Islamabad ordered Arctic-weather gear from a London supplier, unaware that the same supplier provided outfits to the Indians. At 78 km long, it is the longest glacier in the Karakoram and second longest in the world's non-polar areas. [83], On 12 December, an avalanche killed 6 Indian soldiers in the Sub Sector Hanif in Turtuk area, when troops of the 1st Assam regiment were moving between posts. At much lower altitudes, the glaciers impact is benign: it is the source of the Nubra River, a tributary of the Indus River flowing into Pakistan and the Arabian Sea. Karakoram Pass - Wikipedia Siachen is a symbol of the worst aspects of their relationship."[57]. (September 2020) UN map of Siachen Operation Meghdoot ( lit. The Siachen Glacier is located in Northern Ladakh in the eastern Karakoram Range of the Himalayas. In the scene, snow and ice cover most of the jagged peaks of the Himalaya Mountains. [12] The units under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel (later Brigadier) D. K. Khanna were moved on foot to avoid detection of large troop movements by Pakistani radars. [6] To the north, the country was somewhat less desolate and involved travellers crossing the relatively easy and lower Suget Dawan (or Suget Pass)[7] before reaching the lush grazing grounds around Shahidullah or Xaidulla in the upper valley of the Karakash River. As a result, keeping Siachen is critical for India in order to prevent incursion from Pakistan and China. A decommissioned Naval base now rents itself out for people who want to blow stuff up. [20][21] The second assault in 1989 was also unsuccessful as the ground positions did not change. Moreover, the troops presence posed a threat to indigenous wildlife, including the Himalayan brown bear (Ursusarctos isabellinus), the Siberian, or Asiatic, ibex(Capra sibirica), and the snow leopard (Panthera unciaorUncia uncia). Both troops depend on glacial ice as the main source of water for their livelihood. The inhospitable terrain beyond point NJ9842 was not demarcated, simply because U.N. officials didnt think either country would ever dispute such a barren region. In which state is the Siachen glacier located? - BYJU'S The Pakistani troops reached the area and found that India had already occupied the glacier, including the Saltoro Ridge. Pakistan controls the glacial valleys immediately west of the Saltoro Ridge. NASA image created by Jesse Allen, Earth Observatory, using data obtained from the University of Marylands Global Land Cover Facility. This situation arose from the Simla Agreement, signed in 1972 between India and Pakistan . [9] The entire Siachen Glacier, with all major passes and heights of the Saltoro Ridge (including Sia La, Bilafond La, Gyong La, Yarma La (6,100m), and Chulung La (5,800m). At an altitude of roughly 5,400 meters (17,700 feet), the Siachen Glacier in Kashmir is a forbidding place. The glacier covers 76 km from its head at Indira Col on the China-India border to its terminus, with its altitude falling from 5,753m to 3,620m above sea level. Siachen Glacier & The Hidden Treasures of Glacier in India [MAP] 2023 Later, following the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, and the Simla Agreement in July 1972, the ceasefire line was converted into the "Line of Control" extending from the "Chhamb sector on the international border [to] the Turtok-Partapur sector in the north. Minimum winter temperatures range from 20 to 40 C (4 to 40 F). Siachen Glacier, the worlds second-longest glacier in non-polar areas, lies in the Karakoram Range of the Himalayas, in the disputed Kashmir region. [62] India also installed the world's highest telephone booth on the glacier. It lies in the Karakoram Range of mountains at . The Siachen Glacier is at an altitude of 5,753 m above sea level at its head at Indira Col on the China border down to 3,620 m at its terminus. "[This quote needs a citation], The line between where Indian and Pakistani troops are presently holding onto their respective posts is being increasingly referred to as the Actual Ground Position Line (AGPL).[53][54]. [36], June July 1987: Operation Rajiv: Over the next three years, with Indian troops positioned at the critical passes, Pakistan Army attempted to seize heights overlooking the passes. Masood Navid Anwari (PA 10117) then Force Commander Northern Areas and other accompanying troops were killed. Long known as the worlds highest battleground, the glacier could enjoy a different status. A fatal avalanche at Siachen Glacier in September 2012 (with Pakistani flag on top of debris). Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Omissions? Pakistani Army held Qaid post overlooked Bilafond La area and offered an excellent vantage point to view Indian Army activities. This situation arose from the Simla Agreement, signed in 1972 between India and Pakistan, when the treaty failed to specify the last 100km (60mi) or so of the cease-fire line from the end of the Line of Control to the border with China. The area including the Siachen Glacier was inaccessible and thus left unmapped. The correct answer is Karakoram.. Key Points. Land It falls from an altitude of 5,753 m (18,875 ft) above sea level at its head at Indira Col . Offer available only in the U.S. (including Puerto Rico). India took control of around 1,000 square miles of territory during its military operations in Siachen. The first assault was headed by then-Brigadier-General Pervez Musharraf (later President of Pakistan) and initially managed to capture a few high points before being pushed back. [30] The full text was re-printed as "Oropolitics" in the Alpine Journal, London, in 1984. He interacted with the Indian soldiers deployed in Siachen and commended their courage. There are numerous negotiations between both parties but have shown no significant progress, the process was further complicated when Pakistan violated ceasefire line in 1999 and built bunkers on Indian side and started artillery fire on Indian strategic highways resulting in 1999 Kargil War. Pakistan granted a number of permits. Blizzards can last for weeks, temperatures can drop to -55 degrees Celsius (-67 degrees Fahrenheit), and crevasses can swallow a person whole. Siachen Glacier - NASA Earth Observatory Other records created by this strange conflict include the worlds highest helipad and the worlds highest telephone booth, both installed on the glacier by India. [93], On 1 April, Indian General Dalbir Singh and General D. S. Hooda of the Northern Command visited the Siachen glacier in order to boost morale after 17 of its soldiers died in 2016. By Balaji Updated on: March 14th, 2023 Siachen glacier is located in Ladakh, which has been designated as a Union Territory. This operation was called Operation Ababeel. In India-Pakistan Standoff, Siachen Glacier Is No Passive Bystander In Which State is the Siachen Glacier Located? Siachen conflict - Wikipedia In response to these developments, Pakistan Army initiated an operation using troops from the Special Services Group and Northern Light Infantry to displace the three hundred or so Indian troops on the key passes. Bana Post is the highest battlefield post in the world today at a height of 22,143 feet (6,749m) above sea level. Image of the Day Currently, the Indian Army remains the first and only army in the world to have taken tanks and other heavy ordnance up to such an altitude (well over 5,000m or 16,000ft). Saltoro Mountains Coordinates: 352401N 765055E The Saltoro Mountains are a subrange of the Karakoram Range. Acquired in 2001 and 2010, these natural-color images show substantial retreat in the Jakobshavn Glacier. Following the UN-mediated ceasefire in 1949, the line between India and Pakistan was demarcated up to point NJ9842 at the foot of the Siachen Glacier. [89] During the rescue operations, the Indian army found Lance Naik Hanumanthappa alive, though in a critical condition, after being buried under 25 feet snow for 6 days. [92], On 25 March, two Indian jawans died after they were buried in an avalanche in the Turtuk sector while on patrol. [69], The Chief of Staff of US Army, General George Casey on 17 October 2008 visited the Siachen Glacier along with Indian Army Chief, General Deepak Kapoor. In India-Pakistan Standoff, Siachen Glacier Is No Passive Bystander Siachen Glacier - WorldAtlas It lies on the northeast of the northernmost point of the Line of Control between Pakistan and India in the disputed Kashmir region. The Siachen Glacier is considered the worlds highest battleground, with India and Pakistan fighting there since 1984. He was taken to Army Research and Referral Hospital in Delhi. The heavy military presence is a major threat because of the glacier melting and pollution. Snow and Ice. The Line of Control between India and Pakistan ends at point NJ9842, which is located . Siachen is located north of Point NJ 9842, the Line of Control's northernmost agreed-upon point. The ambiguity of the glacier's location has made it prone to territorial claims by both sides, who consider its possession "a matter of national prestige," according to the study's author, Kristin Smith, an independent researcher and . Named for the divine cloud messenger, Meghaduta, from the 4th century AD Sanskrit play by Kalidasa, Operation Meghdoot was led by Lieutenant General Prem Nath Hoon. The military presence has also put rare species at risk, including snow leopards, brown bears, and ibex, who called the Siachen Glacier home long before the arrival of the two rival nations. The most notable one was the one launched by Colonel Narinder "Bull" Kumar of the Indian Army, who led an expedition to Teram Kangri, along with medical officer Captain A.V.S. Siachen Glacier: Why Indian Army Is Unlikely To Pull-Back From World's The ambiguity of the glacier's location has made it prone to territorial claims by both sides, who consider its possession "a matter of national prestige," according to the study's author, Kristin Smith, an independent researcher and journalist. According to a study conducted by the Pakistani Meteorological Department, the glacier size has reduced by about 35% and currently decreasing by 110 meters annually. However, both countries have lost more soldiers to the harsh climate than the conflict itself. Contention over the glacier was aggravated by these expeditions, through both sides asserting their claims. More than 2000 people have died in this inhospitable terrain, mostly due to weather extremes and the natural hazards of mountain warfare. Several tributary rivers of ice flow together, such as the Lolofond and Teram Shehr glaciers, adding their ice to the Siachen Glacier as it winds southeast, where the Nubra River emerges from its terminus. Image of the Day This feature was named "Qaid Post" and for three years it dominated Indian positions on the glacier. This abandoned palace and the stupas around it conceal beautiful Buddhist frescoes, statues, and silk paintings. Pakistan, meanwhile, holds posts at lower elevations along the spurs of the Saltoro ridgeline. The glacier lies to the east of the main Karakoram Range and west of the Saltoro Ridge, falling from an elevation of 5,753m at its head in Indira Col to 3,620m at the terminating point. But thanks to the previously obtained intelligence, India launched Operation Meghdoot just 48 hours before the Pakistani assault. Soldiers sent to Siachen know theyll be serving in a bitter and inhospitable environment. The location of Siachen Glacier is in Ladakh to the north of Nubra Valley in the Himalayan Mountains which is part of the eastern Karakoram range. Indian subcontinent in the extensively glaciated portion of the Karakoram sometimes called the "Third Pole . https://www.britannica.com/place/Siachen-Glacier, GlobalSecurity.org - Siachen Glacier / Operation Meghdoot. The Indians heard of the Pakistani order and promptly ordered twice as many outfits as the Pakistanis and then rushed their soldiers to Siachen. Pakistan went ahead and launched Operation Ababeel in April 1984, with the intention of taking the Saltoro Ridge. A grassroots collection showcasing personal objects of family members separated by the post-1971 border between India and Pakistan. Lower elevations receive about 75 to 150 cm (30 to 60 inches) of snow per year, while higher elevations receive more than 1,000 cm (about 400 inches) of snow. The peak, located east of the Siachen Glacier, also overlooks the northwestern areas of the Aksai Chin area which is controlled by China but claimed by India. [citation needed], The conflict in Siachen stems from the incompletely demarcated territory on the map beyond the map coordinate known as NJ9842 (.mw-parser-output .geo-default,.mw-parser-output .geo-dms,.mw-parser-output .geo-dec{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .geo-nondefault,.mw-parser-output .geo-multi-punct,.mw-parser-output .geo-inline-hidden{display:none}.mw-parser-output .longitude,.mw-parser-output .latitude{white-space:nowrap}350030N 770032E / 35.008371N 77.008805E / 35.008371; 77.008805). In the late 1970s Col. Narinder (Bull) Kumar, a mountaineer in the Indian Army, saw a U.S.-drawn map of northern Kashmir that showed the Siachen Glacier as part of Pakistan. [23][24], "Indians have been able to hold on to the tactical advantage of the high ground. The Siachen Glacier is part of Ladakh, which has now been converted into a Union Territory. The Siachen Glacier is the major source of the 80km long Nubra River, a major tributary of the Shyok River. . Gupta. [4], April 1984 Operation Meghdoot: Indian Army under the leadership of Lt. Gen. Manohar Lal Chibber, Maj. Gen. Shiv Sharma, and Lt. Gen. P. N. Hoon learned of the plan by Pakistan Army to seize Sia La, and Bilafond La, on the glacier. Siachen glacier is located in the eastern Karakoram range in the Himalayan mountains. Because Siachen is a temperate-zone glacier, it generates a great deal of runoff during ablation season, causing the Nubra to carry a heavy load of sediment. Corrections? [90], On 27 February, a civilian porter working with the Indian army in the Northern Glacier, fell to his death in a 130-foot crevasse. Securing the heights: The vertical dimension of the Siachen conflict Since 1984, Indian and Pakistani forces have been occupying posts on or near the Siachen Glacier, a 47-mile-long glacier in the Himalayas. 2023 Atlas Obscura. Indian Army launched an operation to preempt the seizure of the passes by the Pakistan Army. Updates? The Siachen Glacier is located in the Eastern Karakoram range in the Himalayas, just northeast of Point NJ9842 where the Line of Control between India and Pakistan ends. Siachen Glacier, piedmont glacier located in the Karakoram Range. It lies in the heavily glaciated Himalayan region known as the Third Pole, because mountain glaciers in this region contain more fresh water than is found anywhere else on Earth except for the polar ice caps. [8] There is no motorable road across the pass, and the pass currently remains closed to all traffic. Siachen Glacier. R. K. Nanavatty launched an artillery attack on Kauser Base, the Pakistani logistical node in Chumik and successfully destroyed it. Life in Siachen - Times of India This page was last edited on 18 December 2022, at 10:26. Daring BRO maintains Siachen Glacier's Khardungla Pass In 1978 this expedition climbed Teram Kangri II, claiming it as a first ascent in a typical "oropolitical" riposte. Travelling south from the pass involved three days' march across the barren Depsang Plains at about 5,300m (17,400ft). Iceland in Summer: Journey Through a Fabled Land, Peru: Machu Picchu and the Last Incan Bridges, Taste of Greece: Culinary Traditions & Ancient Ruins, Monster of the Month w/ Colin Dickey: Freemasons, Monster of the Month w/ Colin Dickey: Spring-Heeled Jack, Monster of the Month w/ Colin Dickey: Gilles de Rais, Tiny Ecosystems: Making Terrariums With the Terrorium Shop, An Introduction to Sensory History With Carolyn Purnell, Session Cocktails: Low-Alcohol Mixology With Derek Brown, Thrills & Chills: Horror Story Writing With Nino Cipri, Once Upon a Time: Fairy Tale Writing With Anca Szilgyi, Wildfire Smoke Changes Orangutan Calls in Borneo, Podcast: Witches and Ritual Around the Globe, How Community Makes Appalachian Cuisine Shine in Asheville, https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-mar-09-mn-15521-story.html, http://www.siachenglacier.com/War-at-the-Top-of-the-World.html, https://www.jagranjosh.com/general-knowledge/what-is-the-siachen-glacier-dispute-1528291952-1, https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-26967340, https://www.deseretnews.com/article/592928/India-soldiers-can-phone-home-from-20000-feet.html, https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/highest-military-base, https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/highest-battlefield. The Karakoram pass falls on the boundary between India's union territory of Ladakh and China's Xinjiang autonomous region. Disputed islands, urban exclaves, and twists of geopolitics. The 1949 Karachi Agreement and 1972 Simla Agreement did not clearly mention who controlled the glacier, merely stating that the Cease Fire Line (CFL) terminated at NJ9842. However, India held that the dotted line violated the Shimla agreement and may have been a cartographic error. Later its sequel, Battlefield Siachen, was released in January 2013. A base camp was also struck, that killed two Ladakh scouts. It originates from the SiaKangri in the Karakoram Range and is approximately 72 Km in length. Siachen Glacier is the largest glacier in the world outside the Polar Regions. The glacier covers 76 km from its head at Indira Col on the China - India border to its terminus, with its altitude falling from 5,753m to 3,620m above sea level. US General visited for the purpose of "developing concepts and medical aspects of fighting in severe cold conditions and high altitude". Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. What is the Siachen Glacier Dispute? - Jagran Josh
