India to press Pakistan on troop posts in glacier

PAKISTAN: Top Indian defence officials flew Thursday to Pakistan for fresh talks on demilitarisation of an icy glacier in Kashmir where freezing temperatures have claimed more lives than actual combat.

India insists that “iron-clad” evidence of Pakistani military positions on the 6,300-metre (20,800-feet) Siachen area of the disputed region is needed before demilitarisation of the world’s highest battlefield can begin.

Indian Defence Secretary Shekhar Dutt Thursday led a nine-member team to the talks with his newly appointed Pakistani counterpart, Kamran Rasool, in Islamabad, Indian defence ministry officials said.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh earlier on Thursday called a meeting of his security cabinet to chalk out a framework for the two-day talks which begin Friday, they said.

“The cabinet brief given to the defence secretary is clear-cut on the issue of India’s position on the need for an authentication of (Pakistani) troops positions on the Siachen,” a delegation member said before leaving New Delhi.

Singh later told reporters in New Delhi that he was “hopeful” of a positive outcome, when asked about his expectations from the Islamabad meet, the Press Trust of India news agency reported.

“There are immense opportunities. We are working together to resolve our differences,” Singh said.

Islamabad, Friday, AFP