From: gnreddy@cbnewsf.att.com (G.Narotham Reddy)
Subject: India and Pakistan reach an agreement on Siachen Issue
Organization: AT&T
Date: Thu, 5 Nov 92 13:19:37 GMT


Source   : Press Trust of India
Country  : India and Pakistan

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* India and Pakistan reach an agreement on Siachen glacier issue

New Delhi: (Nov 4): India and Pakistan on Wednesday reached an
agreement in certain fields to end the eight year old confrontation in
the dizzy heights of Siachen glacier and extended the defence secretary 
level talks, which were due to end on Wednesday.
	The extended talks will now focus on the areas in which the
differences are yet to be reconciled. These include a cut-off date for
redeployment of forces of the two sides who have been snipping at each
other on the world's highest battlefield at the commanding height of
16,000 feet ( In Himalayas ).
	Indian defence ministry sources said certain details still
under discussion would be worked out between the army authorities of
the two sides.
	Reports said the visiting Pakistani defence secretary would
stay on till November 7 to supervise the "Sir Creek" talks which begin
on Thursday. A joint communique, if any, would only be issued after
Mr.Gilani's departure. The joint statement has been deferred so as to
include a comprehensive agreement not only on the Siachen issue, but
Sir Creek and flareups on the Line of Actual Control in Jammu and
Kashmir.  This is the first major agreement between the two countries
since the Shimla agreement and could signal an end to the protracted
cold war between the two neighbours.
	It may be recalled that India insists on recognising the
existing ground realities of having Saltoro Ridge as the Line of
Control, running north from NJ Point 9842 to the Shaksgam area now in
Pakistan occupied Kashmir which **** ( News incomplete ).
	In the previous five rounds, the two sides had covered lot of
ground towards working out a comprehensive settlement on the issue
which includes redeployment of forces and demilitarisation of the
Siachen glacier and avoidance of use of force. The agreement earlier, 
however, failed to materialise owing to the change of governments in 
both India and Pakistan.
	The two countries now formally open talks on the Sir Creek
issue as also evolve a mechanism to ease tensions all along the
1300-km long Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir.
	While India insists on recognising the existing ground,
realities of having Saltoro Ridge as the Line of control, Pakistan
insists on reverting back to positions held in 1972.
	India is at an advantageous position after capturing all
commanding heights on Siachen in 1984.

Talks extended by a day:

	The on going sixth round of Indo-Pak talks on the Siachen
glacier issue have been extended by a day amidst indications of
emergence of a positive and comprehensive settlement, according to
Pakistan Defence Secretary Shah Abbas Gilani.
	"We are heading towards a positive settlement of the issue,"
Gilani said after emerging from an extensive round of talks with his
Indian counterpart N.N.Vohra in South Block on Wednesday. The talks
lasted for two hours.
	The Pakistani Defence Secretary said the approach of both the
countries now is positive and said "we are certainly hopeful of a
comprehensive settlement". 
	Before the Pakistani delegation arrived here last Sunday, the
Pakistan Chief of Army Staff, General Asif Janjua had said that his
government was hopeful of a settlement of the issue.

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Newsgroups: misc.news.southasia