Although the Kargil war no doubt had Siachen as its strategic objective, the reality is that any settlement will have to recognise the Saltoro Ridge as the actual position on the ground for more than two decades and fully consistent with the 1949 Karachi Agreement.

With the ongoing peace process between India and Pakistan, this seems a favourable time for arriving at a solution through negotiations. The problem is with the terms of that solution and disengagement.

Logically, the line on the ridge indicating the actual position on the ground should be treated as an extension of the 1972 Line of Control. But even if we accept the new terminology—AGPL (Actual Ground Position Line)— this has to be accorded the requisite degree of sanctity to avoid future conflicts.

Reports indicate that Pakistan does not wish to authenticate the actual positions and will only provide assurance of respecting it.

There is nothing in Pakistan’s conduct over the past 59 years that provides even a modicum of confidence in such assurances.

The Siachen conflict itself is a product of its clandestine aggression in violation of the 1949 Karachi Agreement. In case of Kargil, Pakistan claimed the duly authenticated Line of Control was “ambiguous.” And Pakistan has not given up its illegal claim over the Siachen region extending into Nubra valley, which should be part of any negotiated settlement.

But the minimum we need is authentication and exchange of maps duly signed by authorised representatives of the two governments. These maps must be made public, nationally and internationally.

... contd.