October 18th, 2008 
Aman 
Visit In spite of Pakistan’s protest US Army Chief General George Casey visited Siachen Glacier in India on Friday, October 17. Pakistan had complained against the US General’s visit to Siachen but Washington has responded coldly. US General was on three day visit to India, which had started on Thursday. Pakistan considers the Siachen area as an disputed territory between India and Pakistan and is under discussion between both the countries. Troops of both the countries used to regularly trade fire before the ceasefire in 2003. Siachen is world’s highest and coldest battlefield but both the countries have lost their most of men to adverse weather conditions than to bullets. Indian troops have years of experience and are expert in high-attitude battlefield conditions and India’s experience can be very helpful to the US troops who are fighting against the Taliban in Afghanistan along the border of Pakistan.
Confrontation Siachen glacier is situated in the state of Jammu and Kashmir and both the nations claim J&K as their integral part. Both have fought three wars and nothing has changed. That is why Pakistan has objected to US General’s visit as it consolidates the India position on the J&K issue. It is generally believed that borders can not be redrawn but Pakistan has never accepted this view. But Pakistan’s reaction is controversial in itself. At one hand Pakistan’s government wants to improve relations with India and on the other hand some elements are speaking the language of military generals. It is the truth that confrontation with India has remained Pakistan’s government policy and its military budget also depends on this policy.
Relations US troops will have to deal with Taliban militants in the rugged and high attitude terrain in Afghanistan and for it they need to develop an experience to fight in severe cold conditions and high attitude. “Siachen is best for such concept developing as it is a unique battle field.” according to an army official. But Pakistani establishment has considered US General’s visit as an example of ‘Washington’s partisan and biased agenda’. Earlier India had allowed civilian and military expeditions to the Siachen glacier and second time in the year 2008 but Pakistan had again objected. For last some times relations between Pakistan and US are not in good terms because of confrontations between US-Pak troops at the Afghanistan-Pakistan border. In such circumstances US establishment will be more concerned with the Pak objection as compared to India.
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