NEW DELHI: India ruled out on Friday withdrawal of army personnel from Siachen Glacier and said Pakistan might occupy the strategic area if India vacated it.

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said in Lok Sabha that vacating Siachen could lead to greater loss of lives.

“I know we have to pay the price and I salute our armed forces personnel. But we have to maintain this position... The position is very important from the strategic point,” he said while replying to questions about the recent death of 10 soldiers in an avalanche at the glacier.

“I don’t think anyone in this house can take Pakistan’s word for granted... If we vacate the position, the enemy can occupy the position and they will have the strategic advantage. Then we will have to lose many more lives. We know the experience of 1984 (conflict),” he said.

India occupies the highest point at Siachen Glacier, the Saltoro Ridge, which is located at 23,000 feet. On Feb 3, an avalanche hit an army post at a forward location on the glacier, leaving 10 soldiers dead.

The minister said that 915 people had lost their lives in the last 32 years at Siachen, which came to 28 lives per year. This had now been reduced to 10 lives a year.

By arrangement with the Times of India

Published in Dawn, February 27th, 2016