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The Siachen Glacier (Siachen meaning "Black Rose" in Balti), discovered in 1907, is the world's longest glacier outside the polar regions. It also holds another and less benignant record: the hither-to-fore uninhabited, unexplored and relatively unknown icy-caped region has become the highest battlefield in the world, where Pakistani and Indian troops are entrenched against each other.
The Siachen measures approximately 75km in length and 4.8km in width, and rises to about 4,800m. The glacier originates near the Indra Koli Pass on the Pakistan-China border, about 70km southeast of K-2 (Chogori), the second highest peak in the world; From here it runs along the Saltoro Range in a southeasterly direction till it turns into the Nubra River near Dzingrulma, a small village in Indian-held Kashmir (IHK) near Ladakh.
The glacier is flanked by the Saltoro Range to the west and can be approached from Khapalu, a Balti town in the area. Another access is along the Nubra River, ascending from south to northwest in Indian-occupied Ladakh. The historic Saltoro Pass is flanked by high mountains, of which the Saltoro Kangri (a Balti word meaning "peak" at 7,740m is the most prominent.
The Saltoro Pass, also known as Bilafond La ("Pass of the Butterflies") has a unique history.
In early 14th century, it was traversed by the Muslim saint Syed Ali Hamadani, who traveled from Kashmir through Shigar to Kashgar in Central Asia, spreading Islam en route. In the 16th century, a Turkish Sultan, Abu Sayid, invaded Ladakh from China through this pass. Domination of these strategic passes is a key to control the surrounding areas. The Saltoro Range inside Pakistan provides access to Siachen through five passes, i.e., Sia La (7,300m), Bilafond La (6,160m), Gyong La (5,640m), Yarma La (6,100m) and Chulung La (5,800m). These heights and passes, remain snowbound throughout the year.
The Roots Of The Conflict
The current conflict over Siachen Glacier is part of the bitter, unresolved dispute between Pakistan and India over Kashmir - a dispute which dates back to the independence of the two states in August 1947 as a result of the partition of the Indian sub-continent based on Muslim and Hindu majority populations. The Siachen issue arose over the interpretation of the precise direction of the line of...