Over a year after a devastating avalanche hit Gyari in the Siachen sector, close to Indian borders, killing 129 Pakistani soldiers and 11 civilians, Army continues its search to find more bodies buried under tonnes of snow.
The country’s powerful Army chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani vowed to continue efforts for the recovery of the
remaining bodies.
Addressing a special ceremony at Gayari sector today‚ the army chief said 123 bodies have been recovered so far. He
lauded the untiring efforts‚ dedication and devotion of the troops who succeeded in accomplishing this difficult task, state-run Radio Pakistan reported.
The soldiers and civilians were killed in on April 7 last year when the avalanche hit the Gyari sector.
The avalanche that had hit the army camp has been described as the worst in 20 years. Almost one square
kilometer was covered by snow and debris following the avalanche.
Photos earlier released by the military showed bulldozers and rescuers working in an expanse of grey snow and ice, with no trace visible of the camp that had been the Northern Light Infantry’s headquarters.
The avalanche hit at a time when the soldiers were asleep.
The incident occurred at a spot located at a height of 16,000 feet and about 300 km from Skardu in the eastern
Karakoram mountain range.
Indian and Pakistani troops have been engaged in standoff on the Siachen glacier since 1984. Following the ceasefire along the frontiers in Jammu and Kashmir, both India and Pakistan reduced troop levels.
The Siachen glacier is known as the world’s highest and coldest battlefield.
More Indian and Pakistani soldiers have been killed by adverse weather than combat in the sector since the standoff
began in 1984.
Kayani had last year spoken publicly about the need to settle the Siachen issue.
Pakistan wants India to pull back troops to the positions in 1984.
Stung by the occupation of strategic heights in the Kargil sector in 1999, India has insisted on the authentication and demarcation of current military positions on Siachen.
The move is aimed at thwarting the possible re-induction of troops by Pakistan after any demilitarisation of the glacier.
——————-PTI