>SchreiberBike: Fix Time magazine usage - also some copy editing

2021-06-01T04:42:58Z

Fix Time magazine usage - also some copy editing

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{{Short description|Division line between Indian and Pakistani military posts on the Siachen Glacier in Kashmir}}
[[File:Kashmir_Jammu_Map.png|thumb|320x236px|right|UN map showing Siachen in white. Line between the green and white area is the ''"Actual Ground Position Line"'' (AGPL). The white area east of the AGPL is held by India.]]
[[File:Kashmir_map.jpg|thumb|420x346px|right|Indo-Pak mutually-agreed undisputed ''"International Border"'' (IB) in the black line, Indo-Pak ''"Line of Control"'' (LoC) in black dotted line in the north and west, Indo-Sino ''"Line of Actual"'' (LAC) in black dotted line in the east, Indo-Pak line across Siachen in north is ''"Actual Ground Position Line"'' (AGPL). The areas shown in green are the two Pakistani-controlled areas: Gilgit–Baltistan in the north and Azad Kashmir in the south. The area shown in orange is the Indian-controlled territories of Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh, and the diagonally-hatched area to the east is the Chinese-controlled area known as Aksai Chin. ''"Territories ceded by Pakistan to China claimed by India"'' in the north is Shaksgam ([[Trans-Karakoram Tract]]).]]
[[File:Un-kashmir-jammu.png|thumb|420x380px|right|[[United Nations|UN]] map of the [[Line of Control]], which ends at ''"Point NJ980420"'' (Point NJ9842). The ''"Actual Ground Position Line"'' (AGPL) of the Siachen Glacier begins here. [[Nubra River]] valley and Siachen glaciers held by India, along with Bilafond La and Sia La. The Masherbrum Range, Baltoro Glacier, Baltoro Glacier, Baltoro Muztagh and K2 are held by Pakistan.]]

The '''Actual Ground Position Line''' ('''AGPL''') divides current positions of Indian and Pakistani military posts and troops across the entire {{convert|110|km|mi}} long front line in the [[Siachen conflict|disputed region]] of [[Siachen Glacier]].<ref>[http://tribune.com.pk/story/368394/the-fight-for-siachen/ The fight for Siachen]</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.asianconversations.com/SiachenGlacier.php |title=Archived copy |access-date=2015-04-07 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150412102328/http://www.asianconversations.com/SiachenGlacier.php |archive-date=2015-04-12 }}</ref><ref>[http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/siachen-while-the-battle-continues-to-rage-no-settlement-is-in-sight/1/306971.html They shall not pass]</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.timescrest.com/opinion/bullish-on-siachen-9572 |title=Bullish on siachen |access-date=2014-02-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222021918/http://www.timescrest.com/opinion/bullish-on-siachen-9572 |archive-date=2014-02-22 |url-status=dead }}</ref> AGPL generally runs along the [[Saltoro Mountains]] range, beginning from the northernmost point of the ([[Line of Control|LOC]]) at Point [[NJ 9842]] and
ending in the north on the [[Indira Col|Indira Ridge]] at the India-China-Pakistan [[Line of Actual Control|LAC]] tripoint near [[Sia Kangri]] about 4 km northwest of [[Indira Col|Indira Col West]], with peaks in excess of 7,000 meters and temperatures ranging to around minus 55 celsius.<ref name=agp2>{{cite web|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/opinions/2020/aug/31/revisiting-siachen-after-the-ladakh-stand-off-2190461.html|title=Revisiting Siachen after the Ladakh stand-off}}</ref><ref name=controlall1/> India gained control of {{convert|1000|sqmi|km2}} of disputed territory in 1984 because of its [[Siachen_conflict|military operations]] in Siachen.<ref name=":1">{{cite news | url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,958254-2,00.html | work=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] | title=The Himalayas War at the Top Of the World | date=31 July 1989 | first=Edward W. | last=Desmond/Kashmir | access-date=11 October 2008 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090114104526/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0%2C9171%2C958254-2%2C00.html | archive-date=14 January 2009 | url-status=live | df=dmy-all }}</ref><ref name="time.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,958254-2,00.html|title=The Himalayas War at the Top Of the World|first=Edward W.|last=Desmond|date=31 July 1989|work=Time|access-date=11 October 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090114104526/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0%2C9171%2C958254-2%2C00.html|archive-date=14 January 2009|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref> A cease-fire was announced in 2003.<ref name="Watson">{{cite news|url=http://articles.latimes.com/2003/nov/26/world/fg-ceasefire26|title=India and Pakistan Agree to Cease-Fire in Kashmir|last=Watson|first=Paul|date=26 November 2003|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=27 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170427193640/http://articles.latimes.com/2003/nov/26/world/fg-ceasefire26|archive-date=27 April 2017|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref name=Kapadia1>{{cite book
| last =Kapadia
| first =Harish
| author-link = Harish Kapadia
| title =Across Peaks & Passes in Ladakh, Zanskar & East Karakoram
| publisher =Indus Publishing Company
| year =1999
| location =New Delhi, India
| pages = 94; 185–87
| isbn = 81-7387-100-0}}</ref><ref name=Time/>

India has at least 108 forward military outposts and artillery observation posts in this area where temperature goes down to minus 86°C during winters with icy [[Beaufort_scale#Modern_scale|300 kmph]] [[blizzard]]s. [[Bana Top]] (20,500 ft) is the highest post and requires and 80 km trek that takes up to 20 days for troops to reach. Pahalwan Post (20,000 ft) and [[Indira Col]] (19,000 ft) are other high posts. India has two major bases, each with a brigade strength of five to eight battalions supported by additional artillery, air defence, engineer and other logistic units: [[Thoise]] which serves the southern Siachen sector, and [[Siachen Base Camp]] which serves the northern and middle sectors of Siachen.<ref name=trisia1/> Kumar Post, a logistics subbase of Siachen Base Camp, is 60 km and 9-day return trek from Siachen Base camp towards Indira Col.<ref name=siaet2>[https://www.financialexpress.com/lifestyle/travel-tourism/siachen-glacier-open-to-tourists-everything-you-must-know-before-visiting-worlds-highest-battlefield/1746512/ Siachen Glacier open to tourists! Everything you must know before visiting world’s highest battlefield], Financial Express, 26 October 2019.</ref> India has significant tactical advantage as it occupies most of the higher peaks on the [[Saltoro Mountains|Saltoro Mountain Range]] in the western sector of Siachen. The [[Pakistan Army]] hold posts at lower heights on the western slopes of the spurs of the Saltoro Ridge. Pakistan has not been able to scale the crest of the Saltoro Range occupied by India.<ref name=trisia1>[https://www.tribuneindia.com/2014/20140413/pers.htm#1 30 years of the world’s coldest war], The Tribune, 13 April 1984.</ref> Each post has an artillery officer who are deployed in the rotation of 45 days.<ref name=trisia2>[https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/archive/haryanatribune/haryanvi-meghdoot-who-defended-the-most-challenging-post-in-siachen-858562#:~:text=Captain%20Sunil%20Khokhar%2C%20an%20artillery,part%20of%20'Operation%20Meghdoot'. Haryanvi Meghdoot who defended the most challenging post in Siachen], The Tribune, 9 Nov 2019.</ref> The average temperature is between minus 25°C during day and minus 55°C during the night.<ref name=trisia6>[https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/everyday-there-is-a-story-recall-army-officers-who-served-at-siachen-glacier/ Everyday is a story: Army officers recall their time at Siachen Glacier], Indian Express, 14 Feb 2016.</ref> As of 2013, Siachen operations cost INR 3,000 cr (INR 20 billion) annually where over 850 Indian and over 1,800 Pakistani soldiers have died, mostly not in combat, but due to the weather conditions.<ref name=trisia1/>

Till 2013, 26 decorations have been awarded to the Indian soldiers in this sectors, including 1 [[Paramvir Chakra]] (PVC), 5 [[Mahavir Chakra]] and 20 [[Vir Chakra]] to 11 officers and 15 OR of which 9 are posthumous. Additionally, many more [[Kirti Chakra]], [[Shaurya Chakra]], [[Sena Medal]] and [[Vayu Sena Medal]] have been awarded in this sectors.<ref name=trisia1/>

The actual India-Pakistan boundary is divided into 4 types of borders: disputed [[Sir Creek]] (SC) riverine border, mutually agreed [[India–Pakistan border |India–Pakistan International Border]] (IB) from north of ''Sir Creek'' to north of [[Dhalan]] near [[Jammu]], [[Line of Control|LoC]] across [[Kashmir conflict|disputed Kashmir and Ladakh regions]] from north of Dhalan in India and west of [[Chicken's Neck (Pakistan)|Chicken's Neck]] in Pakistan to Point [[NJ9842]], and Actual Ground Position Line (AGPL) across [[Siachen]] from ''Point NJ9842'' to [[Indira Col|Indira Col West]]. Siachen lies south of the [[Trans-Karakoram Tract|Shaksgam]] ceded by Pakistan to China via the 1963 [[Sino-Pakistan Agreement]] but also claimed by India<ref name=Time>{{cite magazine |url =http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,870184,00.html | title = Pakistan: Signing with the Red Chinese | magazine = [[Time (magazine)|Time]]|date =15 March 1963 | access-date =11 January 2020}}</ref> and [[Aksai Chin]] held by China since 1962 but also claimed by India. The Shaksgam Tract controlled by China is located north of the Saltoro mountain range from the [[Apsarasas Kangri]] Range to 90 km northwest of [[K2]].<ref name=control2>R Baghela and M Nüsserab, 2015, [https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0962629815000347 Securing the heights: The vertical dimension of the Siachen conflict between India and Pakistan in the Eastern Karakoram], [[Political Geography (journal)]], Volume 48, Pages 24–36.</ref>

==AGPL alignment==
{{anchor | AGPL | Align | Alignment | AGPL alignment | AGPL starting point | AGPL Starting Point | AGPL end point | AGPL End Point }}

AGPL alignment, from south to north, runs near the following features of the [[Saltoro Mountains]] subrange of [[Karakoram]]:<ref name=Kapadia1/><ref name=agp2/><ref name=control2/><ref name=controlall1/><ref name=":1"/><ref name="time.com"/><ref name=agp1>{{cite web|publisher=Bharat Rakshak Monitor |title=Manning the Siachen Glacier |year=2003 |url=http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/MONITOR/ISSUE6-1/Siachen.html |access-date=2011-01-27 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120614202041/http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/MONITOR/ISSUE6-1/Siachen.html |archive-date=2012-06-14 }}</ref>

* '''AGPL Starting Point''' is [[NJ9842]] (peak); the Line of Control ends and the AGPL begins here and runs northwards.
* East of Pakistan-held [[Chulung Glacier]]
* Southeast of [[Gharkun]] (peak, 6620 m), held by Pakistan
* West of India-held glaciers and [[La Yongma Ri]], 6828 m 
* Northeast of Pakistan-held [[Gyong Glacier]]
* [[Gyong Kangri]] (peak, 6727 m) 
* [[Gyong La]] (pass), held by India
* East of [[2012 Gayari Sector avalanche|Gyari]] (valley) Pakistani army base camp
* [[Chumik Kangri]] (peak, 675 4m)
* [[K12 (mountain)|K12]] (peak, 7,428 m), held by India
* West of [[Bilafond La]], held by India
* West of [[Bana Top]] (peak), formerly Quaid Post of Pakistan, the highest post in the region at 20,500 ft two km south of Bilafond La, held by India since 1987 after the Operation Rajiv. Sonam post sits between Amar and Bana posts.<ref name=trisia4>[http://www.indiandefencereview.com/spotlights/sonam-a-legend-whose-legacy-will-go-on-a-tribute-to-legends-of-siachen/ Sonam a Legend whose Legacy will Go On: A Tribute to Legends of Siachen], Indian Defence Review, 11 Feb 2016.</ref>
* [[Saltoro Kangri]], 7,742 m, 10 km northwest of Bana Top, twin peaks of ''Saltoro Kangri I'' at 25,400 ft to south and ''Saltoro Kangri II'' at a lower height to the north. It is the highest peak in the Siachen sector,<ref name=bullk1>[https://www.timesnownews.com/india/article/the-story-of-how-siachen-was-won-as-told-by-narendra-bull-kumar/347940 "The story of how the Siachen Glacier was won – As told by Narendra 'Bull' Kumar"], ''Times Now'', 16 January 2019.</ref> now held by India.
* [[Sherpi Kangri]], twin peaks 6 km south of Ghent Kangri (7,380 m) and 10 km northwest of Saltoro Kangri (7,742 m). Sherpi Kangri I is the higher, western summit at 7380 m. Sherpi Kangri II at approximately 7100 m is further east, it is on AGPL, unmanned.
* West of [[Ghent Kangri]] 7380 m, held by India
* West of [[Sia La]], held by India
* East of [[Baltoro Kangri]] 7312 m, held by Pakistan
* West of [[Tiger Saddle]], 6.5 km northwest of Sia La, held by India
* West of [[Conway Saddle]], west of and opposite to Tiger Saddle, held by Pakistan
* East of [[Sia Kangri]], west of Tiger saddle, held by Pakistan
* West of [[Indira Col]] on Indira Ridge, on the border of Indian and Chinese controlled territory.
* '''AGPL End Point''': AGPL ends on the [[Indira Col|Indira Ridge]] at the India-China-Pakistan [[Line of Actual Control|LAC]] tripoint near Sia Kangri 4 km northwest of Indira Col West.

==History==

===Karachi Agreement and Shimla Agreement ===

The [[Karachi Agreement]] of 1949 created the Line of Control between India and Pakistan, but this line ended at a location called Khor in [[Nubra]]. The only additional relevant text for the Saltoro – Siachen area in either the 1949 or the superseding 1972 [[Simla Agreement]] was "thence north to the glaciers." The countries interpreted that differently, leading to the [[Siachen conflict]].<ref>{{citation |last=Krishna Rao |first=K. V. |title=Prepare or Perish: A Study of National Security |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=G7xPaJomYsEC&pg=PA472 |year=1991 |publisher=Lancer Publishers |ISBN=978-81-7212-001-6 |page=472}}</ref>

=== 1972 delineation ===
As part of the [[Simla Agreement]] signed on 2 July 1972, prime ministers [[Indira Gandhi]] and [[Zulfikar Ali Bhutto]] agreed that "the line of control resulting from the ceasefire of December 17, 1971, shall be respected by both sides without prejudice to the recognised position of either side".<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://mea.gov.in/in-focus-article.htm?19005/Simla+Agreement+July+2+1972 |title=Simla Agreement |publisher=Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.indianembassy.org/policy/Kashmir/shimla.htm |title=Simla Agreement between India and Pakistan |publisher=Embassy of India, Washington, DC |access-date=2009-11-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091111122810/http://www.indianembassy.org/policy/Kashmir/shimla.htm |archive-date=2009-11-11 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In November–December 1972, the military delegations of the two sides met in [[Suchetgarh]] to delineate the Line of Control. After delineation, signed maps were exchanged by the two sides and submitted to the respective governments for ratification.<ref>{{citation |author=Asian Recorder |chapter=Annexure VII: Asian Recorder, 1–7, Jan. 1973 (SUMMARY: Delineation Maps Exchanged with Pakistan) |editor=Jasjit Singh |title=India and Pakistan: Crisis of Relationship |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eWEkDNZhojEC&pg=PA185 |year=1990 |publisher=Lancer Publishers |isbn=978-81-7062-118-8 |pages=185–189}}</ref> Scholar Brian Cloughley remarked that the delineation represented remarkable territorial precision. However, it terminated at the grid reference NJ9842, leaving undelimited 60 to 75 km to the border with China.<ref name=Cloughley>{{citation |last=Cloughley |first=Brian |title=A History of the Pakistan Army: Wars and Insurrections |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JE1kCwAAQBAJ |date=2016 |publisher=Carrel Books |isbn=978-1-63144-039-7 |at=Chapter 10}}</ref>

===1984 capture of Siachen by India ===

In 1984 by India's successful captured the disputed Siachen Glacier through its [[Operation Meghdoot]], and subsequently continued with [[Operation Rajiv]]. India took control of the {{convert|76|km|mi|adj=mid|-long}} Siachen Glacier and its tributary glaciers, as well as all the main passes and heights of the [[Saltoro Mountains|Saltoro Ridge]] immediately west of the glacier, including [[Sia La]], [[Bilafond La]], and [[Gyong La]]. Pakistan controls the glacial valleys and slopes immediately west of the Saltoro Ridge.<ref name="Wirsing">{{cite book |last = Wirsing |first = Robert |title = Pakistan's security under Zia, 1977–1988: the policy imperatives of a peripheral Asian state |publisher = Palgrave Macmillan, 1991 |isbn = 9780312060671|date = 15 November 1991 }}</ref><ref name="Child">{{cite book |last = Child |first = Greg |title = Thin air: encounters in the Himalayas |publisher = The Mountaineers Books, 1998 |isbn = 9780898865882 |year = 1998 |url-access = registration |url = https://archive.org/details/thinairencounter00chil }}</ref>

== Current status ==

=== Army deployment ===
{{anchor | Army | Army deployment }}

Indian soldiers, following the often-internationally accepted principal of the highest watershed (mountain peaks and ridges) as the border, have held all of the Siachen Glacier and all its main passes since 1984.<ref name=controlall1/> India launched Operation Meghdoot in 1984 during the Siachen conflict, and took control of the Siachen Glacier.

[[Indian Army]] posts are along the Saltoro Ridge, west of the main Siachen glacier, along a line roughly connecting Gyong La, Bilafond La, Sia La, and Indira Col. Pakistan controls the region west of Saltoro Ridge.<ref name=controlall1/> India has more than 50 Indian military posts across the length of AGPL which are located almost 3,000 ft above Pakistani posts,<ref name=controlall1>[https://theprint.in/opinion/how-india-realised-it-was-at-risk-of-losing-the-siachen-glacier-to-pakistan/49141/ How India realised it was at risk of losing the Siachen glacier to Pakistan], The Print, 12 April 2018.</ref> with 80 km [[Sightline|line of sight]] visibility range in the clear weather. The Indian soldiers hold on to the heights on the ridge, preventing the Pakistani soldiers from climbing up to the Saltoro Range heights.<ref name=control2/>

The [[Pakistan Army]] has base camps at [[Goma, Gilgit and Baltistan|Goma]] and posts at its [[2012 Gayari Sector avalanche|Gayari]] subsector in the sub glaciers southwest of the Saltoro Range, and access on the [[Baltoro Glacier]] to the Conway Saddle in the northern extremes of the region.<ref name=control2/> The peaks and passes under Pakistan's control such as [[2012 Gayari Sector avalanche|Gayari Camp]], [[Chogolisa]], [[Baltoro Glacier]], [[Conway Saddle]],<ref name=control2/> [[Baltoro Muztagh]], and [[Gasherbrum]] lie west of the AGPL.

=== Tourism ===
{{anchor | Tourism | Tourism in Siachen | Tourism in AGPL areas | Tourism in AGPL area | AGPL Tourism | AGPL tourism }}
{{ main | Tourism in Ladakh }}

India allows several tourist and civilian activities in Siachen area. To exploit the potential for tourism, the government is making ongoing efforts to improve connectivity.<ref name=siaet1>[https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/siachen-worlds-highest-battlefield-now-opened-for-tourists/articleshow/71688660.cms?from=mdr "Siachen, world's highest battlefield, now open for tourists"], ''Economic Times'', 21 October 2019.</ref> There is a recurring planned annual civilian expedition from [[Siachen Base Camp (India)|Siachen Base Camp]] to Indira Ridge, Indira Col and other features. India has opened up the entire area from ''Siachen Base Camp'' at 12,000 ft to Kumar Post at 15,000 ft for the regular tourism for the civilians. Bana Post at 20,500 ft will remain off limit to tourists. Temperatures drop to below minus 60 degrees Celsius during the winter.<ref name=siaet1/>

Until 2010, civilian tourists were permitted only in the [[Nubra Valley]] up to [[Panamik]]. Since 2010 tourist have been permitted in Nubra Valley up to [[Turtuk]] and beyond to [[Tyakshi]] on the LAC; both of these villages were captured from Pakistan by India in [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1971]]. From 2019, medically fit civilians below the age of 45 are allowed up to Kumar Base (16,000 ft) on a 30-day trek organised by Army Adventure Cell in August–September, during which tourists go through the highly altitude conditioning at Leh Base, Siachen Base and forward staging posts, at the end of which they undertake an extreme adventure 9-day return track from Siachen Base to Kumar Base 60 km away.<ref name=siaet2/>

In 2018, five road routes and four trails with a night stay in Ladakh were opened for the tourists by the [[Government of India]] (GoI), all located above the altitude of 14,000 ft, and the maximum limit of travel permit was raised from 7 days to 15 days:<ref name=tra1>[https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/travel/destinations/5-new-routes-4-trails-in-ladakh-to-open-for-travellers-permit-limit-also-increased/as67160834.cms "5 new routes, 4 trails in Ladakh to open for travellers; permit limit also increased"], ''India Times'', 19 December 2018.</ref>

==See also==

; Borders
* [[India–Pakistan border|India–Pakistan International Border]] (IB)
* [[Line of Control]] (LoC)
* [[Line of Actual Control]] (LAC)
* [[Sir Creek]] (SC)
* [[Borders of China]]
* [[Borders of India]]
* [[Category:Borders of Pakistan|Borders of Pakistan]]

; Conflicts
* [[Kashmir conflict]]
* [[Siachen conflict]]
* [[Sino-Indian War|Sino-Indian conflict]]
* [[:Category:Territorial disputes of China|List of disputed territories of China]]
* [[List of disputed territories of India]]
* [[:Category:Territorial disputes of Pakistan|List of disputed territories of Pakistan]]
* [[Northern Areas]]
* [[Trans-Karakoram Tract]]

; Operations
* [[Operation Meghdoot]], by India
* [[Operation Rajiv]], by India
* [[Operation Safed Sagar]], by India

; Other related topics
* [[Awards and decorations of the Indian Armed Forces]]
* [[Bana Singh]], after whom Quaid Post was renamed to Bana Top
* [[Dafdar]], westernmost town in Trans-Karakoram Tract
* [[India-China Border Roads]]
* [[India-China_Border_Roads#Border_airport_and_ALG_projects|List of AGLs]]
* [[List of extreme points of India]]
* [[Sino-Pakistan Agreement]] for transfer of Trans-Karakoram Tract to China

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Kashmir conflict]]
[[Category:India–Pakistan border]]

Actual Ground Position Line - Revision history

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>SchreiberBike: Fix Time magazine usage - also some copy editing

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