Mushahid presents 3-point plan for resolution of Siachen issue
02 October, 2014
ISLAMABAD: Senate's Standing Committee on Defence Chairman Mushahid Hussain on Wednesday presented 3-point peace plan for Siachen, saying Siachen is an issue of promoting human security and protecting environment rather than national security.
Mushahid Hussain, who returned yesterday from a visit to Siachen with members of the committee, told a media briefing at Parliament House that the time has come for both Pakistan and India to treat an issue of promoting human security and protecting the environment to face the consequences of Climate Change, rather than a needless waste of human lives, money and material in the name of national security.
Senator Mushahid proposing 3-point plan for peace in Siachen termed Siachen as "a pointless conflict of the last 30 years, waste of human and material resources".
The 3-point plan includes demilitarisation of Siachen, withdrawal of forces of both Pakistan and India and conversion of the glacier into a Peace Park where mountain tourism and expeditions could be encouraged under the auspices of the United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) and World Tourism Organisation (WTO).
He called for collaboration between Pakistan and India to prepare a joint strategy for preserving environment and combating the consequences of Climate Change and global warming in the Siachen region whose impact will be felt by 1/5th of humanity that reside in South Asia.
Regarding the futility of the conflict in Siachen, he said that we should learn a lesson from the Gyari tragedy, which resulted in loss of 140 precious lives.
In this context, Senator Mushahid also talked of track record and efforts for peace in Siachen which he said were sabotaged on three different occasions by the Indian military establishment.
He listed these 3 occasions when the Indian army chiefs of that time overruled the Indian political leadership to sabotage any possible peace agreement of India with Pakistan over Siachen:
Senator Mushahid said that these factors have also been confirmed in the recent book by former press secretary to the Indian prime minister, Sanjaya Barua, titled "The accidental prime minister".
He lauded the sacrifices of valiant soldiers of Pakistan Army who were defending the motherland despite extremely difficult odds in the world's most difficult terrain in the highest battlefield. He said these troops were role model for the entire nation and the parliament fully stands behind our men in uniform in Siachen, as they were a source of inspiration.
He also said that 90 percent of deaths on Siachen occur due to weather, which can be even minus 50 degrees Celsius during peak winter season.
Senator Mushahid said that Pakistan and India were both nuclear neighbours and in the 21st century, which is Asian Century, the time has come for both countries to collaborate in areas such as environment, climate change, global warming.
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