New Delhi: Former Army Chief General V P Malik has cautioned the country's decision makers to insist on delineation of positions on Saltoro ridge before agreeing on demilitarisation of the world's highest battlefield.
"Most people in India and Pakistan believe that demilitarisation of Siachen is feasible as it could be the first political achievement in dialogue to take the peace process forward," he states in his just-released book 'Kargil - From Surprise To Victory'.
Malik says that it should not mean going back to the pre-1984 days when, without any delineation on the maps, it was possible for either side to lay claim or encroach into each other's territory.
Saying that there is still ‘immense mistrust’ between the two countries, Malik said India should only agree for demilitarisation of the Siachen Glacier after Pakistan agrees to delineation of the 101 km-long Actual Ground Position Line (AGPL) on the map or marking the position through aerial or satellite photography.
"It is essential to mark the ground position on the AGPL so that future verification is possible, if any party violates the agreement", he said.
The former Army chief, who along with some other former military officers, have been part of the Track II diplomacy with Islamabad, said delineation of position on maps was a ‘must’ as in any international agreement there has to be a clause that prevents the dispute recurring in future.
Stating that map markings or aerial photography could pave the way for an agreement, Malik says that once this is agreed to "demilitarisation can be undertaken over a period of two to three summers, sub-sector by sub-sector".
He says that one of the most motivating factors for Pakistani intrusion in Kargil in 1999 was aimed at cutting off vital Indian army communication links to Turtok area and thus disrupt New Delhi's control of the area.
Islamabad cannot be trusted on words, Malik says as he articulates that 1999 Kargil intrusion was not the only time, Pakistan had bared its designs on the glacier.
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