Siachen conflict

Siachen conflict
Part of the Indo-Pakistani Wars and the Kashmir conflict
Siachen (white) in a map of Indian-administered Kashmir Siachen Glacier lies in the Karakoram range. Its snout is less than 50 kilometres (31 mi) north of the Ladakh Range.
Date April 13, 1984 (1984-04-13) – ongoing (32 years, 10 months, 3 weeks and 5 days) 2003 cease-fire Location Siachen Glacier, in a disputed and undemarcated region of Kashmir Result Ceasefire since 2003. Territorial changes Siachen Glacier comes under Indian control; Continues to be disputed by Pakistan
Belligerents
India	Pakistan
Commanders and leaders
Col. Narendra Kumar LGen P.N.Hoon LGen M.L.Chibber MGen Shiv Sharma LGen V.R.Raghavan BGen C.S.Nugyal BGen R.K.Nanavatty BGen V.K.Jaitley	LGen Zahid Ali Akbar BGen Pervez Musharraf
Strength
3,000+	3,000
Casualties and losses
846 dead (including non-combat fatalities) 36 casualties during combat (1984)	213 dead (including non-combat fatalities between 2003 and 2010) 200 casualties during combat (1984)
Main article: Siachen Glacier

The Siachen conflict, sometimes referred to as the Siachen War, is a military conflict between India and Pakistan over the disputed Siachen Glacier region in Kashmir. A cease-fire went into effect in 2003. The contentious area is about 900 square miles (2,300 km²) to nearly 1,000 square miles (2,600 km²) of territory. The conflict began in 1984 with India's successful Operation Meghdoot during which it gained control over all of the Siachen Glacier (unoccupied and undemarcated area). India has established control over all of the 70 kilometres (43 mi) long Siachen Glacier and all of its tributary glaciers, as well as the three main passes of the Saltoro Ridge immediately west of the glacier—Sia La, Bilafond La, and Gyong La. Pakistan controls the glacial valleys immediately west of the Saltoro Ridge. According to TIME magazine, India gained more than 1,000 square miles (3,000 km²) of territory because of its military operations in Siachen.

The Siachen Glacier is the highest battleground on earth, where India and Pakistan have fought intermittently since April 13, 1984. Both countries maintain permanent military presence in the region at a height of over 6,000 metres (20,000 ft). More than 2000 people have died in this inhospitable terrain, mostly due to weather extremes and the natural hazards of mountain warfare.

The conflict in Siachen stems from the incompletely demarcated territory on the map beyond the map coordinate known as NJ9842 (35°00′30″N 77°00′32″E / 35.008371°N 77.008805°E / 35.008371; 77.008805). The 1949 Karachi Agreement and 1972 Simla Agreement did not clearly mention who controlled the glacier, merely stating that the Cease Fire Line (CFL) terminated at NJ9842. UN officials presumed there would be no dispute between India and Pakistan over such a cold and barren region.