Despite Pak protest, trek to Siachen begins

The glacial trek, which snowballed into a major controversy when it was started last year after Pakistan lodged a protest against 'adventure tourism' in a 'disputed region', started off from Leh on Tuesday.

Close to 30 civilians — schoolchildren, DRDO scientists, mountaineering enthusiasts and media persons — are taking part in th e 21-day trek to the highest battlefield in the world. Organised by the Army Mountaineering Institute, it will involve a 40-km climb up the glacier where participants will cross heights of over 18,000 feet.

Despite vehement protests by Pakistan when the glacier was opened for civilian expeditions -- Islamabad issued a formal representation to New Delhi days before the trek started in September last year — the glacial trek has been made an annual feature.

While only Indian citizens have taken part in adventure activities on the glacier till now, senior officers say foreign citizens would also be invited for similar events in the near future.

“The region undisputedly belongs to us. The idea is to project the same in the international community and such activities reaffirm our position,” a senior Army officer said.

The Defence Ministry had last year termed tourism activities on the glacier as 'routine' after Pakistan said the expedition would be uncongenial to peace talks between the countries.

Seeking to downplay the event last year, Defence Minister A K Antony had said as many as 15 expeditions involving Indian and foreign nationals have taken place in the region. What he did not mention was that none of the expeditions had taken place on the disputed Siachen glacier itself but on surrounding mountain regions that were well within the Indian territory.

The Siachen glacier has been under dispute ever since troops from both countries moved in to occupy its icy heights in 1984. India occupies all the dominating heights in the area and has control over the Saltoro ridge.