5 more Gayari martyrs’ bodies recovered

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Five more dead bodies of the martyrs were recovered from Gayari Sector on Saturday.

According to ISPR, the dead bodies of 29 soldiers have so far been recovered from the rubbles in Gayari where recovery work is going on.

139 defence personnel entrapped under the rubbles in this year’s April avalanche in Gayari.

The recovery operation had been started immediately after the incident which will continue till recovery of deal bodies of all martyred soldiers.

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Saluting the Gayari Boys

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As the number of recovered martyred bodies begins to grow, a national salute is due to the boys conducting the search and rescue operations at the highest battle zone of the world. This would, probably, be remembered as one of the most challenging rescue operations in the military history. The Pakistan Air Force has made a significant contribution towards this effort by quickly airlifting the requisite heavy machinery. Acknowledgment is also due to the friendly countries for their expert advice, material contribution and physical participation in the effort.


The Gayari incident is, indeed, a great national loss. Pakistan lost 129 hardened combatants and 11 skilled civilians. All Gayari avalanche victims were declared as martyrs on the 53rd day of the occurrence. After the passage of 52 days, the nature and magnitude of the calamity was suggestive of no probability of recovering anyone alive. The ISPR said: “…….given the improbability of recovering anyone alive, and after consulting religious leaders, it has been decided to declare the remaining brave soldiers as shuhada (martyrs) to try to reduce their families’ suffering.”


This certainly eased the agony of their immediate dependents, relatives and other mourners, who were keeping their hopes alive, though unrealistically. Their dilemma of hope against hope came to a logical close and the natural healing process set in. Keeping the sensitivity of the matter in view, the Pakistan army did a commendable job by consulting religious scholars before making the promulgation, because this decision was to have its implications under various provisions of Sharia and jurisprudence. Against this backdrop, religious scholars from all sects and factions were consulted. Aspects related to the socio-religious dimensions/implications, requirements to initiate the process of documentation, and reduction of the sufferings of the bereaved families, were thoroughly evaluated.


This unfortunate proclamation was received by the public with mixed feelings of pride and grief. The army’s unflinching resolve to continue all-out efforts to recover the bodies of all martyrs has gone down well with the public. Even though over two months have passed since the tragic incident, the resolve of the rescuers is unwavering and hence commendable, while the excavation work is still going on with full vigour. Though it may seem that this activity is taking longer than usual time, it is mainly due to the constraints imposed by the terrain and weather. Despite these hazards, brave Pakistani troops with the help of experts from some countries and sniffer dogs, aided by helicopters and heavy equipment have been trying their best to find their comrades buried under a deep layer of snow. And they are determined to continue the effort until they recover the bodies of all their fellow soldiers.


On April 7, a huge chunk of hard snow broke away from the parent glacier and overran battalion headquarters of the 6th Northern Light Infantry, which was also the army’s base camp for Siachen Glacier. This piece of snow covered an area of about of one square kilometre, and was up to 80 feet high. It was, indeed, a huge glacial slide. After the main slide, 12 small slide falls were also triggered in the vicinity of the Gayari site from adjacent mountains. However, due to limited extent, no additional damage occurred; yet these slides hampered the search operations. Due to a concerted effort by Pakistani and foreign teams, the number of recovered bodies is increasing each day; these martyrs are being buried with full military honours in their respective native towns. One can safely assume that the recovery of the remaining dead bodies is only a matter of days.


The site of the incident is 13,000 feet up in the mountains, just below the glacier, where Pakistani and Indian troops have faced a standoff since the 1980s. India and Pakistan fought over Siachen in 1987, when India cowardly occupied a portion of the un-demarcated patch of land which until then had the status of no-man’s land. This stabbing at the back came at a critical time when Pakistan was preoccupied in the Afghan war during the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan. Presumably, India did it at the behest of their Soviet mentors. Nevertheless, the guns on the glacier have, by and large, been silent since a peace process began in 2004.


Excavation is going on at the maximum speed, within the constraints that be. Around 450 engineers and workers, 49 heavy duty electromechanical pieces including 10 dozers, 11 excavators, 18 dump trucks and 9 FE loaders have been working almost round the clock. Simultaneous efforts are being undertaken to tackle effects of water on the site, in the shape of pondages, erosive cuttings and crevasses. This water started cumulating in the vicinity after the glacial slide, which slowed down the pace of rescue efforts. However, as a result of extensive engineering effort, the water has started draining out, resulting in its quick reduction. It is good that General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani is directly monitoring the rescue efforts.


President Asif Zardari, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif, General Kayani and a number of leading personalities have visited the Gayari sector to express their solidarity with the unfortunate troops. The whole nation has expressed deep sorrow and regret over the incident. It has shown remarkable solidarity with the aggrieved families of the soldiers and has been continuously praying for their survival and safety.


The Siachen issue was part of the agenda when President Zardari visited India just after the incident and held a semi-official meeting with Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh. Though the media is speculative that the two sides are looking into the prospects of declaring the glacier as a military-free zone, the optimism is misplaced. In the present state of superpower phobia and affiliated hubris, India is unlikely to agree to a mutually acceptable solution. Though there is political will on the Indian side to resolve the Siachen issue, the Indian army is the main hurdle. Dispute was a part of composite dialogue and is also on the agenda of the current dialogue process. National morale is unwavering; Pakistan will maintain its garrison at Siachen until the aggressor pulls back.


The Pakistan Army is poised to stay on the glacier for an indefinite period. Hence, there is a need to install appropriate sensors in the area, which could forewarn of such major glacial and landslides. Moreover, there is a need for precise site registration with the help of GPS or other equipment so that rescue effort could be more focused and precise.


Furthermore, units and personnel should be equipped with specialised gadgets for transmitting SOS messages through thermal or acoustic signalling; this would help in determining the exact location of the entrapped personnel. Some of the best practices from the mines’ rescue operations could be adapted to enhance the survivability of the victims of such tragedies.


The entire nation salutes the Gayari martyrs for their supreme sacrifice. May Allah Almighty rest their souls in eternal peace and grant fortitude to their survivors for bearing this great loss with patience. Surely, each martyr of Gayari continues to live in the hearts of the nation!


And to those digging snow and mud while braving chilling temperatures and shearing wind: sons! The nation watches you with an pride and honour! Well done, keep it up and go on till the last body is recovered!

Khalid Iqbal 



The writer is a retired air commodore and former assistant chief of air staff of the Pakistan Air Force. At present, he is a member of the visiting faculty at the PAF Air War College, Naval War College and Quaid-i-Azam University.

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Siachen: Gyari Rescue Operation Video Highlights

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Live video recording of Gyari rescue operation in the world's toughest battlezone has been presented in this video where our soldiers are working in heavy snowfall and temperatures as low as -60 degrees Celcius.

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Pak Army – Let Martyred Soldiers Defend Siachen

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On 7 April 2012 an Avalanche hit 134 brave Pakistani personnel including 11 civilians at Gayari sector near Siachen Glacier. Lt Col Tanvir Ul Hassan, Maj ZakaUlHaq and Capt HaleemUllah (AMC) are part of the missing soldiers. The incident occurred at about an altitude of 16,000 feet and 180 miles northeast of Skardu, the capital of Baltistan. President Zardari, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, Army Chief, PML (N) leader Nawaz Sharif, COAS General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, leading journalists and media anchors visited Siachen.


Whole nation expressed deep sorrow and regret over the “unfortunate snow slide”. The nation has shown solidarity with the aggrieved families of the soldiers and is continuously praying for their survival and safety. However, the rescue operation is underway and entered into 50th day of the operation. Despite weather hazards, brave Pakistani troops with the help of experts from Germany, Switzerland, Xinhua and  sniffer dogs, aided by helicopters and heavy equipment are recklessly trying to find their comrades under 80 feet deep snow after the avalanche engulfed the camp in the disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir. 


According to ISPR update of May 22, 2012, “clearance efforts continued round the clock at Gayari Sector. Simultaneous efforts are being undertaken to tackle effects of water on the site in the shape of pondages, cutting and crevasses. The water has started draining and has resulted into quick reduction of water level in the lake to the tune of 27 feet”. “Excavation work has resumed its full pace despite difficulties posed by seepage of the water at the sites, hazards of crevasses / cutting by water and sinking effects for plant equipment”.“Meanwhile during physical inspection of the area, some equipment was found”. 


Notably, COAS General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani is directly looking after the rescue efforts and being courageous commander determined to excavate each inch of the area in the search of his brave soldiers. I, being his cadet and retired commander of “The Volunteers” (an infantry unit that served in Siachen Sector) can visualize the importance of search of the bodies of martyred soldiers for their comrades and families.  


But still, as fighter, familiar with the circumstances where many soldiers  laid their lives in the war zones and area like Siachen but still their bodies did not recover or traced out due to topography, unfavourable environmental conditions   and weather hazards.  It doesn’t mean that soldiers do not remember their comrades or nation forget its heroes those scarified their lives for their tomorrows. 


But, I would only say that while viewing the efforts of rescue operation, we must consider the ground realties too. Moreover, being Muslims, we fully convinced and have full faith that person who gets martyr in Allaha’s path, will remain alive and never dies. Thus, it would not be wrong in saying that soldiers who had scarified their lives for us would be taken as everlasting invisible guardian of Pakistan’s territorial boundaries. 


I also know that some loves one of the missing soldiers of Gayari Sector are in the opinion that now search of the bodies of missing personnel be stopped and they should be declared as Shaheed (martyr) since it is difficult to fight the nature. On May 3 2012, father of Major Zaka, who came under avalanche accompanied COAS during his visit to Siachen, while talking to journalist appreciated the efforts of troops participating in rescue operation. He also stated that he is proud of his son and other soldiers who scarified their lives. 


According to ISPR press release, at that occasion, COAS remained with the troops for some time and lauded their motivation in face of tough conditions and extreme weather. He appreciated their resolve to upkeep Army’s proud tradition of not leaving a man behind, until humanly possible, regardless of cost. Anyhow, being one of the old warriors of Siachen, I know that after passing 50 days the chances of survival of soldiers buried under 80 feet of snow are very rare and meager. Moreover after two months time the temperature will again start decreasing which will definitely make the snow harder and harder.


I would like to suggest here that “Let Martyred Soldiers should stay there to Defend Siachen” and now army should start taking steps of compensation of the aggrieved families while declaring their loves one as martyred. Moreover over, in the houner of country’s defenders, Army should build a memorial in Gayari sector. The memorial will keep us reminding about our brave soldiers those are there to defend our territories. I would also like to mention few words of Indian Army Chief Interview of May 26 2012. In this interview, he instead acknowledging and giving serious thoughts  over Pakistani COAS to de-militarize  Siachen area rejected the same while considering his troops in the better deployment position where as it just amount to live in fool paradise.  Indian Chief must consider the weather hazards and expenditures incurring on Siachen Issue. He should not forget his causalities which are more than Pakistani casualties.

By Lt Col Zaheer-ul-Hasan (retd.)

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The Myth of Siachen - Reality vs Perception

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Pull out from Siachen?

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This is with reference to the statement by Mr Nawaz Sharif that ‘Pakistan should take lead in pulling out of Siachen’. Like most other statements by our politicians this statement also comes as a reaction to an event. But does it merit serious consideration? Will taking lead in pulling out our forces from Siachen compel India to do the same?

It has been three decades since both countries signed Simla Agreement. Has that helped Pakistan? Which dispute/issue have we been able to ‘solve bilaterally’ let alone take the lead in pulling out our forces and leave an open invitation to the Indians to take away further ‘what is left for us to hold in Siachen’. Militarily we can never depend upon the good intentions of the enemy. It is only its capability or lack of it that continues to draw our appropriate response. Lets not forget that India is the aggressor in Siachen, we only stopped the advancing Indian military that has occupied two third of Siachen Glacier. If anyone has to take lead in withdrawing forces from Siachen it is the Indians.


As a young captain when I served at the glacier occupying a post at 22000 feet the greatest motivational force or inspiration was to defend the borderline against any Indian aggression. Strong snow blizzards did not allow the evacuation of sick men from the post (pulmonary edema, cerebral edema) and men died without us being able to do anything. Many such brave men have died on so many posts over the years just because they loved their country and cherished the opportunity to guard the national border irrespective of the harshness of the terrain. They could not accept Indians to take away an inch of land that was now held with us.


Today when 138 sons of this land have sacrificed their lives why do we focus only on the tragedy and forget the cause for which they died? Why do we forget those unsung heroes in thousands who have died since last 28 years this war in Siachen is being fought? Why didn’t we take lead in withdrawing our forces in the years went by? If guarding and protecting our borders through our armed forces is not a national responsibility then why have borders at all? Why keep and maintain the defence forces?


Yes, we are faced with many challenges and threats. One big reason that we face these threats is to compel us to falter in our will and resolve that guides us to stay together as one nation. Force us to ultimately choose the only weapon that our enemies want us to pick and fight – compromise – the weapon of weak’. On vital national interests we should never unilaterally compromise because that’s what our enemies want us to do.


The best tribute that Mr Nawaz Sharif could have given to the martyrs of the Siachen was to salute the cause, believing in which the soldiers sacrificed their lives. To all the politicians who rule us today and who will rise to rule the people of this country in future I wish to convey a message. ‘Don’t send soldiers to wars as all wars are bad. But when you have chosen to send them don’t ever say the war you send them to fight is not worth fighting for'.


All wars must eventually end. The only wars without ends are the wars that the politicians perpetuate by failing to stop them from being fought on the negotiating tables.

Written by  LT COL (retd) MUHAMMAD ALI EHSAN for 'PakistanToday'.
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The so called liberal secular fascists of SAFMA combined with the very wise (not so)  Shareef have   started calling to pull out from Siachen when  around 138 sons of this land sacrificed their lives for the sake of safeguarding Pak Sarzameen.  It's crucial to note that these pleas from the Indian mouthpiece SAFMA come at a time when the eminent and strong Indian Think Tanks plan to advance their forces at Siachen. Instead of giving tribute to the sons of the Land who laid their lives selflessly to protect the boundaries of this land, the SAFMA gang all of a sudden overwhelmingly became patriotic and started feeling the pain of the sons of the land whom previously, they have have been maligning all their past lives! 


Xharaf Vsm

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