Strategic importance of Siachen for India

Siachen Glacier is a 76 km long glacier situated in the eastern Karakoram Range of the Himalayas. It is located in the north direction of NJ 9842 point, the point where the India and Pakistan Line of Control (LoC) ends. It is the highest battlefield in the world and is a challenging place to survive. With the Siachen temperature going as low as -60 degrees, there are persistent chances of avalanches, snowstorms, strong winds, and altitude-related diseases in the region. However, despite all these difficulties in Siachen, the Indian army has been deployed at the glacier for years.

History of Contention

Since 1984, when the Indian Army took over the Siachen Glacier, it has been a matter of dispute between India and Pakistan. 

• The disagreement over the glacier started due to the vagueness of the Karachi Agreement of 1949. 
• The Karachi Agreement, which ended the Indo-Pakistan war of 1948 over Kashmir, mentioned the ceasefire line up to coordinate NJ 9842 on the map and to the north to the glaciers. 
• During the 1972 Simla Agreement, the Ceasefire Line was changed into the LoC, but the confusion over the boundary beyond NJ 9842 was still not cleared. Hence there was no clarity over who controls the Siachen Glacier.

Post-1970

Neither of the two nations showed any interest in Siachen until the 1970s, considering the place did not have resources, did not have much strategic importance and was inhabitable. However, things changed down the line. 

• In the late 1970s, global publications such as the U.S. government documents carried maps that demonstrated the LoC being extended from northeast of NJ 9842 point to the Karakoram Pass. Hence, the maps showed the Siachen Glacier as Pakistan. 
• Pakistan started allowing mountaineers from the west of Siachen and its ridges to claim the territory. 
• India could see Pakistan strengthening its claim over Siachen through strategic geopolitics.

Then, in the early 1980s, India became aware that Pakistan had purchased high-altitude fighting equipment. Foreseeing that Pakistan may try to occupy Siachen, India decided to defeat them by placing its troops in the area even before Pakistan troops could reach there. 

• In April 1984, India landed two army troops on the Bilafond La and Sia La, the two crucial Saltoro Ridge passes, to block Pakistan’s access to Siachen. This way, in Siachen, the Indian army was deployed. 
• With this move, India established not only control over the Siachen but also its glaciers, significant passes and the Saltoro Ridge, located to the west of the glacier. 
• Since then, the two nations have made deployment of the military in the area. The Pakistan soldiers are present at the lower altitudes.

Why do both nations claim the Siachen Glacier?

Both nations claim their authority over the glacier based on different interpretations of the Karachi Agreement. 

• Pakistan argues that it means a line from the point NJ 9842 in the northeast direction straight towards the Karakoram Pass, making Siachen a part of Pakistan. 
• India says that from the point NJ 9842, the border shall move along the Saltoro Ridge, giving India control over Siachen.

Strategic Importance of Siachen Glacier

• The Siachen glacier sets the boundary between central Asia and the Indian subcontinent. 
• It also forms a division between China and Pakistan. Saltoro Ridge in the Siachen glacier acts as a division that averts the linkage of Pakistan Occupied Kashmir with China directly, prohibiting the two from developing geographical military alliances. 
• Siachen also helps India to watch over Pakistan’s Gilgit-Baltistan territories. Pakistan taking over Siachen would be a problem for India since Pakistan would threaten India in the west, and China could threaten from the east through Aksai Chin. Since India has access to the Saltoro Ridge, it can deal with territorial disputes with Pakistan in the future in a better way.

Conclusion

Although a rugged terrain to survive and defend, Siachen is a strategically important territory for India. The Saltoro Ridge in the Siachen glacier acts as a division that prevents the direct linkage of Pakistan Occupied Kashmir with China, prohibiting the two from developing geographical military alliances in the area. Siachen also works as a watchtower for India to keep an eye on Pakistan’s Gilgit and Baltistan regions. With the formation of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the Siachen area remains India’s northernmost deployment. With the construction of CPEC, parts of which also pass through Ladakh, defending Ladakh has become critical for India. Thus, in Siachen, the Indian army deployment is crucial.