AFVOA Newletters of Year 2004

Page 17 of 153 Northern Areas (FCNA) functions from Skardu. Pakistan’s compulsions for talks on Siachen stem from a reality that India commands higher and more commanding posts on Sia La and Bilfond La passes. 66. These two passes provide access across the Saltoro ridge into Siachen from Pakistan side. As it has been unable to dislodge India, Pakistan army has settled for containing it to the Saltoro, while strengthening its build-up in adjoining Skardu, facing Kargil sector of Ladakh. 67. In June 1990, Pakistan after deploying additional troops close to the glacier, called for ‘talks’. Army brass in Northern Command prevailed upon VP Singh, the then Prime Minister not to fall into the Pak trap on settlement of glacier. It warned that army can do little if the two strategic mountain passes, Sia Lal and Bilfond La were handed to Pakistan. Pakistan subsequently mounted pressure through its patrons. In March 1993 in its report titled ‘India and America after the cold war’, prepared by U.S. think tank Carnegie Endowment Study Group called upon Indian Prime Minister to unilaterally withdraw from the contested Siachen glacier as a stimulus to ‘broaden’ the dialogue on confidence building measures. Earlier, two UN military observers, who had sneaked incognito into the Siachen area, were pushed out by the Indian Army. THE PROSPECT 68. Pakistan has been sending contradictory signals on disengagement in Siachen. Prior to Lahore talks, Pak army Chief, Parvez Mushraff went in the company of Mr Nawaz Sharif to Siachen and said that the challenge to Pakistan security was from within. He ruled out any threat from India. But soon after the Lahore summit he backtracked on delinking Siachen from Kashmir issue and Okayed attack on an Indian post. This has raised doubts about Pakistan’s real intentions. India proposes six-point formula, which includes cessation of cartographic aggression and culminating in the withdrawal of forces by both sides. Pakistan opposes it and calls for first withdrawing forces and then delineating an extension of LoC beyond NJ9842. Meanwhile, Siachen demilitarisation has been included in the agenda for dialogue in the forthcoming foreign secretaries meet between India and Pakistan. Only time will say whether the two will agree on de-escalation over Siachen, given the political ramifications of dis-engagement {Source: http://www.kashmirsentinel.com/apr1999/3.9.html} A grandfather bought a hobby horse by mail order as a Christmas present for his granddaughter. The toy arrived in 189 pieces. The instructions said that it could be put together in an hour. It took the old man two days to assemble the toy. Finally, when it was all put together, he wrote a check, cut it into 189 pieces and mailed it off to the company. Festivals 69. The colourful festival of Holi is due to be celebrated on Saturday the 06 th March. One of the legends connected with the festival is given below: ALL THIS IN THIS WORLD IS PERVADED BY GOD Aum Isha Vasyam Idam Sarvam, Yat Kincha Jagatyam Jagat Ten Tyaktena Bhunjitha, Ma Gridhah Kasyasvid Dhanam.