No Indian casualty in Siachen in 8 years - a myth

[Awesome]

I hate to recount deaths but since I was recently awarded the "highest degree in ignorance", I decided to educate myself on the matter

Some searches:

2007:
NewsLibrary.com - newspaper archive, clipping service - newspapers and other news sources

2010:

Avalanches kill three soldiers in Siachen glacier | TwoCircles.net
Leh Cloudburst: 5 Army Personnel Dead, 33 Missing | news.outlookindia.com

2011:

Bunker fire in Siachen kills 2 Army officers - Times Of India

Other related news:

The Hindu : National : Soldier’s wife breaks down during presentation of gallantry awards
Pak helps find bodies of pilots in Siachen - Times Of India
Siachen should be 'peace mountain': PM -

First of all, let me be crystal clear this is not to diminish or ridicule the loss of life. Since these incidents went under reported in the media, first and foremost I like to offer my condolences.

I conclude with an attempt to talk sense and echo feelings of the Indian PM Singh (along with countless Pakistani leaders), India's occupation of Siachen made sense in 1984. India now has spy satellites to monitor KKH and the KKH now is no longer such a big mystery as it was back then. Back then the making of KKH must have spooked the Indians but that is miles away from the AGPL.

"All we are saying, give peace a chance"
-- John Lennon

 

[Joe Shearer]

An over-reaction.

What was said to you was not correct, and anyone who knows anything is aware of it.

In general, though, what you say makes sense. Still, I would not, personally, override the current Army view about the proper resolution. This does need some more discussion, some more convergence. It is to be hoped that both sides can sit and hammer out an agreement soon, and bring an end to these needless casualties.

I hate to recount deaths but since I was recently awarded the "highest degree in ignorance", I decided to educate myself on the matter

Some searches:

2007:
NewsLibrary.com - newspaper archive, clipping service - newspapers and other news sources

2010:

Avalanches kill three soldiers in Siachen glacier | TwoCircles.net
Leh Cloudburst: 5 Army Personnel Dead, 33 Missing | news.outlookindia.com

2011:

Bunker fire in Siachen kills 2 Army officers - Times Of India

Other related news:

The Hindu : National : Soldier’s wife breaks down during presentation of gallantry awards
Pak helps find bodies of pilots in Siachen - Times Of India
Siachen should be 'peace mountain': PM -

First of all, let me be crystal clear this is not to diminish or ridicule the loss of life. Since these incidents went under reported in the media, first and foremost I like to offer my condolences.

I conclude with an attempt to talk sense and echo feelings of the Indian PM Singh (along with countless Pakistani leaders), India's occupation of Siachen made sense in 1984. India now has spy satellites to monitor KKH and the KKH now is no longer such a big mystery as it was back then. Back then the making of KKH must have spooked the Indians but that is miles away from the AGPL.

"All we are saying, give peace a chance"
-- John Lennon

 

[The HBS Guy]

hmm...so I do stand corrected. Wouldn't be afraid of apologizing.

Though I must say I'am really short of time to do my own research on this. But it's ok, I'll take your word for now and leave the rebuttal to my fellow Indians some of whom have better facts and figures on the issue.

 

[Awesome]

hmm...so I do stand corrected. Wouldn't be afraid of apologizing

None needed, I was probably wrong at least about the 16 people. You take somethings for granted. Forumming experience has taught me that the devil is always in the details and being good with Google searches always helps.

In hindsight, my wording does come off as an over reaction as Joe Shearer pointed out, but not meant to be one.

 

[Windjammer]

On an average, defence experts say, one Pakistani soldier is killed every third day on the Siachen Glacier, showing approximately 100 casualties every year on an average. Similarly, one Indian soldier is killed every other day on the Siachen Glacier, at an annual average of 180 casualties. According to unofficial figures, over 3,000 Pakistani soldiers have lost their lives on the bloody Siachen Glacier between April 1984 and April 2012 as against over 5,000 Indian casualties. At present, there are approximately 7,000 Indian Army troops and about 4,000 Pakistani troops stationed at the Siachen Glacier.

Over 8,000 Indo-Pak soldiers killed in Siachen - thenews.com.pk

 

[Joe Shearer]

None needed, I was probably wrong at least about the 16 people. You take somethings for granted. Forumming experience has taught me that the devil is always in the details and being good with Google searches always helps.

In hindsight, my wording does come off as an over reaction as Joe Shearer pointed out, but not meant to be one.

The important thing in all this is Asim's very sensible point that we really need to sort this out. Now.

 

[jayron]

Soldiers' lives are not worth our empty pride. If we respect our soldiers, we should empathize with them on the issue.

 

[Awesome]

May everything work out amicably wrt to demilitarizing Siachen.

 

[IND151]

this is very sad

 

[Joe Shearer]

Just to furnish some data on a very sad subject, readers are advised to look up Lt. Gen. S. K. Sinha's recent interview (10 fatalities a year) and the official response by the Minister to a parliamentary question, where he mentions a figure of 26 in the last year.

India has managed to get a firm grip on the casualty rate, there has been intense work on the working conditions and infrastructure, BUT accidents happen, and the saddest thing of all, the loss of lives, continues. Even one life gone is a tragedy; ten is mind-numbing.

 

[third eye]

In the early years one saw a great deal of casualties. HAPO was the greatest killer along with the terrain.

Thankfully HAPO has been controlled yet the terrain remains.

What I feel is needed is a ground swell of public pressure on both sides for the Govts to accept ground realities , validate them on paper and withdraw.