Pak offers to help India search soldiers trapped in Siachen avalanche
February 04, 2016  16:15
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Pakistan has offered to help India in its search and rescue operations for 10 soldiers missing in the Siachen glacier after an avalanche.

Army Northern Commander Lt Gen DS Hooda said the event was tragic  and saluted the men who braved all challenges to guard India's frontiers.

One junior commissioned officer (JCO) and nine jawans of the Army's 19 Madras battalion are trapped after an avalanche struck their post in Siachen early Wednesday morning.

Rescue operations are on by the Army and the Air Force.

The post is at 19,600 feet on the Actual Ground Position Line (AGPL) -- the border with Pakistan at Siachen glacier -- in the vicinity of Bana post.

Spokesperson for the Ministry of Defence, Northern Command, S D Goswami said the rescue operations were being closely monitored from Leh and Udhampur.

The maximum tenure of any soldier on the northern glacier is three months, while for some tougher posts, such as Bana post, it is restricted to 30 days.

Units deployed on the northern glacier are rotated after a six-month stint.

Siachen is the world's highest active battlefield, contested by India and Pakistan since 1984 when India launched Operation Meghdoot.

In April 1984, the Indian Army moved in to pre-empt a move by the Pakistan Army to occupy the glacier. Indian Army currently occupies the full Siachen glacier, while Pakistani forces are deployed at the lower heights of Saltoro ridge.
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