04-20-2006, 11:11 PM
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>Demilitarisation of Siachen: 'No', says Army Chief, 'almost through', says NSA </b>
Pioneer News Service | New Delhi
The UPA Government's move for an agreement with Pakistan on demilitarisation of Siachen has not gone down well with the forces. Army Chief General JJ Singh on Thursday said he had conveyed the Army's concerns and views to the Government, adding the process of demilitarisation was not on the horizon.
Making this observation in a media interaction after weeklong Army Commanders' Conference, General Singh said, "we have conveyed our concerns and views to the Government. We expect that composite dialogue between India and Pakistan will take care of these concerns and the decision of the Government will be in consonance with the views projected by us."
General Singh said demilitarisation would be preceded by disengagement and "as far as we are concerned demilitarisation is not in the immediate horizon."
Meanwhile, singing a different tune altogether, National Security Advisor (NSA) M Narayanan said India and Pakistan are "closer" to a "final point" on the Siachen problem and talks are on for finalising modalities for authentication of present troop positions that can pave the way for demilitarisation of the world's highest battlefield.
In an interview to PTI, Mr Narayanan said just a month ahead of official-level talks on Siachen, New Delhi has also asserted that it was keen on having "iron-clad guarantees" from Pakistan to avoid a scenario in which India will have to "reclaim" the positions it now occupies in case a need arises.
"(Agreements on) Siachen and Sir Creek have been on the anvil for a long time. As far as Siachen is concerned, the issue has been as to how do you authenticate the line where they (troops) are," Mr Narayanan said.
Noting that both sides have presented "various options or recommendations", he said "I don't think we have reached the final point but I think we are closer to that."
Mr Narayanan, however said, "in any case, there are a lot of issues to be discussed. There is the entire area of whether we start off in a phased manner. I think it will take a little more time".
Asked about the minimum conditions that India would expect Pakistan to meet, he said, "I don't think we are laying any conditions. The only point is that we are occupying positions on the Saltoro Bridge and if we move back and if for some reason it becomes necessary to go back, it becomes so much more difficult."
He said "we want to avoid any kind of a contingency that we have to try to reclaim something, which we had. So we want certain iron clad guarantees that that would not happen. It is not that we are laying down conditions."
On whether Pakistan has agreed to the authentication of the present ground positions of troops along the 74-km Siachen, the NSA said, "they have not accepted it the way we want it to be authenticated... Some discussions are still going on."
He said the two countries were talking about "specific grid references and on-ground positions. Observing that around the world there are "certain accepted ways to authenticate", Mr Narayanan said, "we want to be clear so that later on somebody will not say this is not what is meant."Â
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Not sure, why congress again planning to screw India?
When Army Generals are against, why Narayan and Spineless are going against ground reality?
Or they are looking for another Siachien treaty to be broken within 2 weeks.
Pioneer News Service | New Delhi
The UPA Government's move for an agreement with Pakistan on demilitarisation of Siachen has not gone down well with the forces. Army Chief General JJ Singh on Thursday said he had conveyed the Army's concerns and views to the Government, adding the process of demilitarisation was not on the horizon.
Making this observation in a media interaction after weeklong Army Commanders' Conference, General Singh said, "we have conveyed our concerns and views to the Government. We expect that composite dialogue between India and Pakistan will take care of these concerns and the decision of the Government will be in consonance with the views projected by us."
General Singh said demilitarisation would be preceded by disengagement and "as far as we are concerned demilitarisation is not in the immediate horizon."
Meanwhile, singing a different tune altogether, National Security Advisor (NSA) M Narayanan said India and Pakistan are "closer" to a "final point" on the Siachen problem and talks are on for finalising modalities for authentication of present troop positions that can pave the way for demilitarisation of the world's highest battlefield.
In an interview to PTI, Mr Narayanan said just a month ahead of official-level talks on Siachen, New Delhi has also asserted that it was keen on having "iron-clad guarantees" from Pakistan to avoid a scenario in which India will have to "reclaim" the positions it now occupies in case a need arises.
"(Agreements on) Siachen and Sir Creek have been on the anvil for a long time. As far as Siachen is concerned, the issue has been as to how do you authenticate the line where they (troops) are," Mr Narayanan said.
Noting that both sides have presented "various options or recommendations", he said "I don't think we have reached the final point but I think we are closer to that."
Mr Narayanan, however said, "in any case, there are a lot of issues to be discussed. There is the entire area of whether we start off in a phased manner. I think it will take a little more time".
Asked about the minimum conditions that India would expect Pakistan to meet, he said, "I don't think we are laying any conditions. The only point is that we are occupying positions on the Saltoro Bridge and if we move back and if for some reason it becomes necessary to go back, it becomes so much more difficult."
He said "we want to avoid any kind of a contingency that we have to try to reclaim something, which we had. So we want certain iron clad guarantees that that would not happen. It is not that we are laying down conditions."
On whether Pakistan has agreed to the authentication of the present ground positions of troops along the 74-km Siachen, the NSA said, "they have not accepted it the way we want it to be authenticated... Some discussions are still going on."
He said the two countries were talking about "specific grid references and on-ground positions. Observing that around the world there are "certain accepted ways to authenticate", Mr Narayanan said, "we want to be clear so that later on somebody will not say this is not what is meant."Â
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Not sure, why congress again planning to screw India?
When Army Generals are against, why Narayan and Spineless are going against ground reality?
Or they are looking for another Siachien treaty to be broken within 2 weeks.