CaptainJackSparrow
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What made India occupy Siachen?
Although Pakistan never deployed troops in the region , since the 1970s they encouraged international mountaineering expeditions on the glacier. These expeditions were authorized by the Pakistani government and were generally seen as an attempt to reinforce Pakistan's claim on the region. It is reported that in 1977 an Indian colonel , Narinder (Bull) Kumar, read an article on a Siachen expedition in an international mountaineering magazine. This prompted him to lead an Indian team to the glacier. The Indians successfully reached the glacier , climbed several peaks and returned back. Later, the Pakistanis spotted the Indian trail when they found a crumpled packet of an Indian brand of cigarette . Alarmed by this, the Pakistani army decided to occupy the glacier. An international magazine (Time) has reported that there was a huge intelligence blunder as the Pakistanis ordered mountaineering gears from a London firm that happened to be a supplier for India . The information got leaked and in April 1984 India launched "Operation Meghdoot" to defend Siachen . Indian troops reached the glacier much before the Pakistanis and since then Siachen is under Indian control.
India gained control over Siachen in 1984 - The Economic Times