Months after the government announced its decision to declare Ladakh a Union Territory, India is now planning to allow common people to visit the world's highest battlefield, Siachen Glacier.
Army sources said allowing civilians at the closely guarded Siachen Glacier would help people see the difficulties and daily challenges faced by personnel of the Indian Army who man the area in extremely harsh weather conditions.
The sources also said that Army chief General Bipin Rawat has said that people have developed a keen interest in the Army life and its ways.
“The Army chief, during a recent seminar, stated that the forces were already allowing citizens to visit the training institutions and are now planning to open up several posts, including some high altitude locations such as the Siachen Glacier, for common people to see,” an official said.
The Indian Army does not allow civilians to access the premises near Siachen Glacier other than the locals who live nearby and serve as porters for the forces. The Army is also considering opening up more of its operational positions in the high altitude terrain in Ladakh for common people to see.
The Army is in the process of identifying more of these locations and positions where civilians can come and see how the soldiers operate.
The Siachen Glacier is part of Ladakh which has now been converted into a Union Territory by the Narendra Modi government by separating it from the state of Jammu and Kashmir which has also been turned into a Union Territory.
Sources said the Army has not yet decided on the procedures and the particular positions where it would allow tourists.
The Siachen Glacier is the world's highest battlefield and is maintained by thousands of Indian troops round the year where extreme cold conditions and the treacherous glacial terrain are bigger enemies than the enemy bullets.
According to an ANI report, Army sources have said that Indians visiting Ladakh and nearby places have been requesting for permission to visit famous Kargil war positions as well like the Tiger Hill where the Indian Army fought the Pakistanis.
Asked whether there would be any opposition to the Army's plan from Pakistan, sources said the entire area belongs to India and it was upto the Indian administration to decide on these matters.
From 2007, India had started allowing civilians to trek from Siachen Base Camp to high altitude locations in the Siachen Glacier which is around 11,000 feet at the base camp and goes beyond 21,000 feet at the higher reaches.
After the Centre read down Article 370 last month, Pakistan has been trying to rake up the issue at the international stage but India has defended the decision calling it an internal matter.
