Actual Ground Position Line

The Actual Ground Position Line (AGPL) divides current positions of Indian and Pakistani military posts and troops along the entire 110 kilometres (68 mi) long frontline in the disputed region of Siachen Glacier.^[1][2][3][4] AGPL generally runs along the Saltoro Mountains range, beginning from the northernmost point of the (LOC) at Point NJ 9842 and ending in the north on the Indira Ridge at the India-China-Pakistan LAC tripoint near Sia Kangri about 4 km (2.5 mi) northwest of Indira Col West, with peaks in excess of 7,000 m (23,000 ft) and temperatures ranging to around −55 °C (−67 °F).^[5][6] India gained control of 1,000 square miles (2,600 km²) of disputed territory in 1984 because of its military operations in Siachen.^[7][8] A cease-fire was announced in 2003.^[9][10][11]

UN map showing Siachen in white. Line between the green and white area is the "Actual Ground Position Line" (AGPL). The white area east of the AGPL is held by India.

Indo-Pak mutually-agreed undisputed "International Border" (IB) in the black line, Indo-Pak "Line of Control" (LoC) in black dotted line in the north and west, Indo-Sino "Line of Actual" (LAC) in black dotted line in the east, Indo-Pak line across Siachen in north is "Actual Ground Position Line" (AGPL). The areas shown in green are the two Pakistani-controlled areas: Gilgit–Baltistan in the north and Azad Kashmir in the south. The area shown in orange is the Indian-controlled territories of Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh, and the diagonally-hatched area to the east is the Chinese-controlled area known as Aksai Chin. "Territories ceded by Pakistan to China claimed by India" in the north is Shaksgam (Trans-Karakoram Tract).

UN map of the Line of Control, which ends at "Point NJ980420" (Point NJ9842). The "Actual Ground Position Line" (AGPL) of the Siachen Glacier begins here. Nubra River valley and Siachen glaciers held by India, along with Bilafond La and Sia La. The Masherbrum Range, Baltoro Glacier, Baltoro Glacier, Baltoro Muztagh and K2 are held by Pakistan.

India has at least 108 forward military outposts and artillery observation posts in this area where temperature goes down to −86 °C (−123 °F) during winters with icy 300 km/h (190 mph) blizzards.^{[citation needed]}Bana Top (6,200 metres (20,500 ft)) is the highest post and requires an 80-kilometre (50 mi) trek that takes up to 20 days for troops to reach. Pahalwan Post (6,100 metres (20,000 ft)), and Indira Col (5,800 metres (19,000 ft)), are other high posts. India has two major bases, each with a brigade strength of five to eight battalions supported by additional artillery, air defence, engineer and other logistic units: Thoise which serves the southern Siachen sector, and Siachen Base Camp which serves the northern and middle sectors of Siachen.^[12] Kumar Post, a logistics subbase of Siachen Base Camp, is a 60-kilometre (37 mi) 9-day return trek from Siachen Base camp towards Indira Col.^[13] India has significant tactical advantage as it occupies most of the higher peaks on the Saltoro Mountain Range in the western sector of Siachen. The Pakistani Army hold posts at lower heights on the western slopes of the spurs of the Saltoro Ridge. Pakistan has not been able to scale the crest of the Saltoro Range occupied by India.^[12] Each post has an artillery officer who are deployed in the rotation of 45 days.^[14] The average temperature is between minus 25°C during day and minus 55°C during the night.^[15] As of 2013, Siachen operations cost INR 3,000 crore annually where over 850 Indian and over 1,800 Pakistani soldiers have died, mostly not in combat, but due to the weather conditions.^[12]

Till 2013, 26 decorations have been awarded to the Indian soldiers in this sectors, including a Paramvir Chakra (PVC), five Mahavir Chakra and 20 Vir Chakra to 11 officers and 15 OR of which nine are posthumous. Additionally, many more Kirti Chakra, Shaurya Chakra, Sena Medal and Vayu Sena Medal have been awarded in this sectors.^[12]

The actual India-Pakistan boundary is divided into four types of borders: disputed Sir Creek (SC) riverine border, mutually agreed India–Pakistan International Border (IB) from north of Sir Creek to north of Dhalan near Jammu, LoC across disputed Kashmir and Ladakh regions from north of Dhalan in India and west of Chicken's Neck in Pakistan to Point NJ9842, and Actual Ground Position Line (AGPL) across Siachen from Point NJ9842 to Indira Col West. Siachen lies south of the Shaksgam ceded by Pakistan to China via the 1963 Sino-Pakistan Agreement but also claimed by India^[11] and Aksai Chin held by China since 1962 but also claimed by India. The Shaksgam Tract, controlled by China, is located north of the Saltoro mountain range from the Apsarasas Kangri Range to 90 km (56 mi) northwest of K2.^[16]

AGPL alignment

AGPL alignment, from south to north, runs near the following features of the Saltoro Mountains subrange of Karakoram:^{[10][5][16][6][7][8][17]}

• AGPL Starting Point is NJ9842 (peak); the Line of Control ends and the AGPL begins here and runs northwards.
• East of Pakistan-held Chulung Glacier
• Southeast of Gharkun (peak, 6620 m), held by Pakistan
• West of India-held glaciers and La Yongma Ri, 6828 m
• Northeast of Pakistan-held Gyong Glacier
• Gyong Kangri (peak, 6727 m), held by Pakistan
• Gyong La (pass), held by India
• East of Gyari (valley) Pakistani army base camp
• Chumik Kangri (peak, 675 4m)
• K12 (peak, 7,428 m), held by India
• West of Bilafond La, held by India
• West of Bana Top (peak), formerly Quaid Post of Pakistan, the highest post in the region at 20,500 ft two km south of Bilafond La, held by India since 1987 after the Operation Rajiv. Sonam post sits between Amar and Bana posts.^[18]
• Saltoro Kangri, 7,742 m, 10 km northwest of Bana Top, twin peaks of Saltoro Kangri I at 25,400 ft to south and Saltoro Kangri II at a lower height to the north. It is the highest peak in the Siachen sector,^[19] now held by Pakistan.
• Sherpi Kangri, twin peaks 6 km south of Ghent Kangri (7,380 m) and 10 km northwest of Saltoro Kangri (7,742 m). Sherpi Kangri I is the higher, western summit at 7380 m. Sherpi Kangri II at approximately 7100 m is further east, it is on AGPL, held by Pakistan.
• West of Ghent Kangri 7380 m, held by India
• West of Sia La, held by India
• East of Baltoro Kangri 7312 m, held by Pakistan
• West of Tiger Saddle, 6.5 km northwest of Sia La, held by India
• West of Conway Saddle, west of and opposite to Tiger Saddle, held by Pakistan
• East of Sia Kangri, west of Tiger saddle, held by Pakistan
• West of Indira Col on Indira Ridge, on the border of Indian and Chinese controlled territory.
• AGPL End Point: AGPL ends on the Indira Ridge at the India-China-Pakistan LAC tripoint near Sia Kangri 4 km northwest of Indira Col West.

History

Karachi Agreement and Shimla Agreement

The Karachi Agreement of 1949 created the Line of Control between India and Pakistan, but this line ended at a location called Khor in Nubra. The only additional relevant text for the Saltoro – Siachen area in either the 1949 or the superseding 1972 Simla Agreement was "thence north to the glaciers." The countries interpreted that differently, leading to the Siachen conflict.^[20]

1972 delineation

As part of the Simla Agreement signed on 2 July 1972, prime ministers Indira Gandhi and Zulfikar Ali Bhutto agreed that "the line of control resulting from the ceasefire of December 17, 1971, shall be respected by both sides without prejudice to the recognised position of either side".^[21][22]

In November–December 1972, the military delegations of the two sides met in Suchetgarh to delineate the Line of Control. After delineation, signed maps were exchanged by the two sides and submitted to the respective governments for ratification.^[23] Scholar Brian Cloughley remarked that the delineation represented remarkable territorial precision. However, it terminated at the grid reference NJ9842, leaving undelimited 60 to 75 km to the border with China.^[24]

1984 capture of Siachen by India

In 1984 by India's successful captured the disputed Siachen Glacier through its Operation Meghdoot, and subsequently continued with Operation Rajiv. India took control of the 76-kilometre-long (47 mi) Siachen Glacier and its tributary glaciers, as well as all the main passes and heights of the Saltoro Ridge immediately west of the glacier, including Sia La, Bilafond La, and Gyong La. Pakistan controls the glacial valleys and slopes immediately west of the Saltoro Ridge.^[25][26]

Current status

Army deployment

Indian soldiers, following the often-internationally accepted principal of the highest watershed (mountain peaks and ridges) as the border, have held all of the Siachen Glacier and all its main passes since 1984.^[6] India launched Operation Meghdoot in 1984 during the Siachen conflict, and took control of the Siachen Glacier.

Indian Army posts are along the Saltoro Ridge, west of the main Siachen glacier, along a line roughly connecting Gyong La, Bilafond La, Sia La, and Indira Col. Pakistan controls the region west of Saltoro Ridge.^[6] India has more than 50 military posts across the length of AGPL which are located almost 3,000 ft above Pakistani posts,^[6] with 80 km line of sight visibility range in the clear weather. The Indian soldiers hold on to the heights on the ridge, preventing the Pakistani soldiers from climbing up to the Saltoro Range heights.^[16]

Goma, Gilgit and Baltistan

The Pakistan Army has base camps at Goma and posts at its Gayari subsector in the sub glaciers southwest of the Saltoro Range, and access on the Baltoro Glacier to the Conway Saddle in the northern extremes of the region.^[16] The peaks and passes under Pakistan's control such as Gayari Camp, Chogolisa, Baltoro Glacier, Conway Saddle,^[16] Baltoro Muztagh, and Gasherbrum lie west of the AGPL.

Tourism

Main article: Tourism in Ladakh

India allows several tourist and civilian activities in Siachen area. To exploit the potential for tourism, the government is making ongoing efforts to improve connectivity.^[27] There is a recurring planned annual civilian expedition from Siachen Base Camp to Indira Ridge, Indira Col and other features. India has opened up the entire area from Siachen Base Camp at 12,000 ft to Kumar Post at 15,000 ft for the regular tourism for the civilians. Bana Post at 20,500 ft will remain off limit to tourists. Temperatures drop to below minus 60 degrees Celsius during the winter.^[27]

Until 2010, civilian tourists were permitted only in the Nubra Valley up to Panamik. Since 2010 tourist have been permitted in Nubra Valley up to Turtuk and beyond to Tyakshi on the LAC; both of these villages were captured from Pakistan by India in Indo-Pakistani War of 1971. From 2019, medically fit civilians below the age of 45 are allowed up to Kumar Base (16,000 ft) on a 30-day trek organised by Army Adventure Cell in August–September, during which tourists go through the highly altitude conditioning at Leh Base, Siachen Base and forward staging posts, at the end of which they undertake an extreme adventure 9-day return track from Siachen Base to Kumar Base 60 km away.^[13]

In 2018, five road routes and four trails with a night stay in Ladakh were opened for the tourists by the Government of India (GoI), all located above the altitude of 14,000 ft, and the maximum limit of travel permit was raised from 7 days to 15 days:^[28]

See also

Borders

• India–Pakistan International Border (IB)
• Line of Control (LoC)
• Line of Actual Control (LAC)
• Sir Creek (SC)
• Borders of China
• Borders of India

Conflicts

• Kashmir conflict
• Siachen conflict
• Sino-Indian conflict
• List of disputed territories of China
• List of disputed territories of India
• List of disputed territories of Pakistan
• Northern Areas
• Trans-Karakoram Tract

Operations

• Operation Meghdoot, by India
• Operation Rajiv, by India
• Operation Ababeel, by Pakistan

Books

• Beyond NJ 9842: The Siachen Saga
• Meghdoot : The Beginning of the Coldest War

Other related topics

• Awards and decorations of the Indian Armed Forces
• Bana Singh, after whom Quaid Post was renamed to Bana Top
• Robert D. Hodgson
• List of extreme points of India
• Sino-Pakistan Agreement for transfer of Trans-Karakoram Tract to China

References

1. The fight for Siachen
2. "The endless India-Pakistan sabre-rattling over Siachen glacier and the Line of Control can be resolved by turning the area into a peace park for glacial and weather studies, by B G Verghese, and more from Asian Conversations and Dancing Wolf Media". Archived from the original on 2015-04-12. Retrieved 2015-04-07.
3. They shall not pass
4. "Bullish on siachen". Archived from the original on 2014-02-22. Retrieved 2014-02-17.
5. "Revisiting Siachen after the Ladakh stand-off".
6. How India realised it was at risk of losing the Siachen glacier to Pakistan, The Print, 12 April 2018.
7. Desmond/Kashmir, Edward W. (31 July 1989). "The Himalayas War at the Top Of the World". Time. Archived from the original on 14 January 2009. Retrieved 11 October 2008.
8. Desmond, Edward W. (31 July 1989). "The Himalayas War at the Top Of the World". Time. Archived from the original on 14 January 2009. Retrieved 11 October 2008.
9. Watson, Paul (26 November 2003). "India and Pakistan Agree to Cease-Fire in Kashmir". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 27 April 2017. Retrieved 27 April 2017.
10. Kapadia, Harish (1999). Across Peaks & Passes in Ladakh, Zanskar & East Karakoram. New Delhi, India: Indus Publishing Company. pp. 94, 185–87. ISBN 81-7387-100-0.
11. "Pakistan: Signing with the Red Chinese". Time. 15 March 1963. Retrieved 11 January 2020.
12. 30 years of the world’s coldest war, The Tribune, 13 April 1984.
13. Siachen Glacier open to tourists! Everything you must know before visiting world’s highest battlefield, Financial Express, 26 October 2019.
14. Haryanvi Meghdoot who defended the most challenging post in Siachen, The Tribune, 9 Nov 2019.
15. Everyday is a story: Army officers recall their time at Siachen Glacier, Indian Express, 14 Feb 2016.
16. R Baghela and M Nüsserab, 2015, Securing the heights: The vertical dimension of the Siachen conflict between India and Pakistan in the Eastern Karakoram, Political Geography (journal), Volume 48, Pages 24–36.
17. "Manning the Siachen Glacier". Bharat Rakshak Monitor. 2003. Archived from the original on 2012-06-14. Retrieved 2011-01-27.
18. Sonam a Legend whose Legacy will Go On: A Tribute to Legends of Siachen, Indian Defence Review, 11 Feb 2016.
19. "The story of how the Siachen Glacier was won – As told by Narendra 'Bull' Kumar", Times Now, 16 January 2019.
20. Krishna Rao, K. V. (1991), Prepare or Perish: A Study of National Security, Lancer Publishers, p. 472, ISBN 978-81-7212-001-6
21. "Simla Agreement". Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India.
22. "Simla Agreement between India and Pakistan". Embassy of India, Washington, DC. Archived from the original on 2009-11-11. Retrieved 2009-11-14.
23. Asian Recorder (1990), "Annexure VII: Asian Recorder, 1–7, Jan. 1973 (SUMMARY: Delineation Maps Exchanged with Pakistan)", in Jasjit Singh (ed.), India and Pakistan: Crisis of Relationship, Lancer Publishers, pp. 185–189, ISBN 978-81-7062-118-8
24. Cloughley, Brian (2016), A History of the Pakistan Army: Wars and Insurrections, Carrel Books, Chapter 10, ISBN 978-1-63144-039-7
25. Wirsing, Robert (15 November 1991). Pakistan's security under Zia, 1977–1988: the policy imperatives of a peripheral Asian state. Palgrave Macmillan, 1991. ISBN 9780312060671.
26. Child, Greg (1998). Thin air: encounters in the Himalayas. The Mountaineers Books, 1998. ISBN 9780898865882.
27. "Siachen, world's highest battlefield, now open for tourists", Economic Times, 21 October 2019.
28. "5 new routes, 4 trails in Ladakh to open for travellers; permit limit also increased", India Times, 19 December 2018.