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NEW DELHI: Solution to Siachen Glacier is a part of the larger issue to include Pakistan’s support to terrorism in India, Minister for Defence Manohar Parrikar told Rajya Sabha on Wednesday.
In a written reply to upper house of the India parliament, Parrikar said 13 rounds of talks to resolve the Siachen issue have already taken place between the two countries.
“Indian government has made it clear to Pakistan that the solution to Siachen Glacier is a part of the larger issue to include Pakistan’s support to terrorism in India,” he said.
Parrikar added that on December 9, 2015, India’s Minister for External Affairs Sushma Swaraj met the Pakistani leadership on the side-lines of the Heart of Asia process for regional cooperation on Afghanistan.
“These discussions directed the foreign secretaries of both countries to work out the modalities and schedule of the meetings under the Comprehensive Bilateral Dialogue on various issues including Siachen,” he said.
Parrikar also informed the upper house that Indian soldiers deployed in extremely harsh terrain and weather conditions were suitably equipped and properly trained to undertake the operational challenges and carry out their mandated tasks.
The soldiers deployed at Siachen Glacier are provided with quality winter clothing including ‘Extreme Cold Climate’ clothing, he said.
Besides, they are provided with prefabricated insulated shelters and wherever it is not possible to construct such shelters due to technical difficulties, insulated tents are provided which can withstand low temperatures up to 500 Celsius, he added.
The units are self-sufficient for a period of 240 days of supplies. During winters/cut off season, daily maintenance of troops is carried out by rotary/fixed wing assets, said Parrikar.
