Pakistan demands India pull out Siachen troops
05 December, 2013
ISLAMABAD: Adviser to the Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz said Wednesday that the presence of Indian forces on Siachen Glacier is a serious threat to the environment of Pakistan and urged India to resolve the dispute on priority basis by pulling out its troops from the glacier.
In an exclusive talk with Radio Pakistan on Wednesday, he said Pakistan is a country facing water shortage and Indian forces are damaging the virgin snow of Siachen on a daily basis, which is one of the largest sources of Pakistani waters. Sartaj Aziz termed the presence of Indian forces on Siachen a big issue and urged India to resolve it on priority basis by pulling out its troops from the glacier.
He said that items of daily use disposed of by thousands of Indian soldiers are threatening the existence of the glacier. According to environmentalists, glacial retreat on Himalayas and Karakorum ranges has accelerated during the recent years because of human presence on the glaciers.
Regarding outstanding water issues between Pakistan and India, the adviser said both countries are engaged to resolve them through multiple channels including Pakistan-India composite dialogue and Indus Water Commission.
He said implications of water scarcity are grave in view of climate change. Sartaj Aziz stressed proper usage of water in Pakistan, its conservation and building of new water reservoirs.
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