Daily Times

The Siachen glacier is traditionally known as the “Pride of Pakistan”. The Siachen glacier is actually a triangular disputed territory nicely sandwiched geographically between Pakistan, India and China. Both Pakistani and Indian armies claim possession of Siachen glacier, and they have been fighting in Siachen since 1984.

The Siachen glacier is known as the highest battlefield of the world, and soldiers of Pakistan are there to defend the frozen frontier of the country. In this pitch, I am going to propose a new plan or question about Siachen glacier. Can we promote Siachen glacier as the highest tourism attraction in the world rather than the highest battlefield in the world?

I visited Skardu and Khaplu in the recent summer and I got a chance to travel on the Saltoro valley road up to the site of Sakisa. Snow-capped and cone-shaped peaks of Saltoro ridge are visible from Sakisa and they look so beautiful. But movement of civilians and tourists is restricted in the area on Saltoro valley road, and the Pakistan Army directly controls it. I was stopped first at Sorma bridge and then finally at Sakisa by the military, and I was directed to go back. That embarrassing situation gave birth to the idea in my mind that Siachen glacier should be a tourist spot rather than a no-go area.

We know Siachen glacier is a region with very harsh and cold weather where average temperature during the year is minus 40oC. Soldiers of Pakistan military are specially trained and they are equipped enough to survive in that inhumane weather of Siachen glaciers, even at the height of 22,000 feet. Now, if an ordinary Pakistani citizen or a foreigner is determined and ambitious enough to visit Siachen glacier, then what’s wrong with this innocent desire?

Here my perspective and stance is that Pakistan government and Pakistani army should promote tourism in the Siachen glacier area, and they can take some measures in this regard. Very proud and prestigious Pakistan army should give civilians access and logistic support to Siachen glacier on commercial basis. Pakistan army can establish a separate wing in headquarter that may deal with all kind of tourism affairs of civilians in Siachen glacier. Similarly, government of Pakistan should build Khaplu-Siachen highway on the patterns of Karakoram Highway (KKH). Khaplu-Siachen highway will be equally useful for army and civilians of Pakistan.

Now I know my proposal looks bit funny and childish and most Pakistanis especially military men who have served in Siachen glacier will laugh on it. No problem; laugh therapy is also good for human life. But actually, this proposal is not so funny, and the Siachen glacier has the potential to attract tourists from Pakistan and overseas as well.In the area of Saltoro ridge, there are many sites of hiking and tracking. In addition to this, there are many peaks in the area and the sport of mountaineering can also be promoted in this area.

K2, Broad Peak, Gasherbrum-1 and Mashabrum, K12, K6 and Dansam are some major peaks in the area around Siachen glacier. For example, K12 is a major peak of Saltoro glacier and it is 7428 meter high. K6 is 7282 meter high peak and Dansam is 6328 meter high peak; Dansam and K6 are the nearest to Khaplu. Promotion of mountaineering and hiking in the region on commercial basis will provide employment opportunities to the native people of the area.

Now, as far as trip to Siachen glacier is concerned, logistic support of Pakistan army is inevitable to reach there. I think and I wish Pakistan army should provide this logistic support and permission to tourists on demand and on commercial basis.

There is a plan B as well in this proposal. If Pakistan army thinks that Siachen glacier is not safe place to visit especially for civilians may be due to weather or some other security reason, then at least Pakistan army should open road to general public and tourists up to Saltoro ridge.

The modus operandi I proposed will entirely change the identity and reputation of Siachen glacier in the region, and it can be promoted as the highest tourist attraction in the world rather than the highest battlefield in the world or a no-go area. Determined and crazy-enough adventurists should be allowed to go there in that dangerous frozen heaven of snow and avalanches.

A Pakistani civilian tourist present at Siachen glacier will definitely come to understand how Pakistan army soldiers are defending the borders of the country at Siachen Glacier in the very extreme weather conditions. Long live Pakistan and Pakistan Army!

The writer is lecturer at the Department of Sociology, Government College University Faisalabad. He can be reached at sajidmahmoodsajid@gmail.com

Published in Daily Times, August 29^th 2017.