US cold shoulders Pak protest as its army chief visits Siachen
18 Oct 2008
Jammu: US army chief General George Casey on Friday visited Siachen glacier, the highest battle field in the world, even as his country chose to cold shoulder protests from Pakistan. The continually developing defence interactions between the US and India appear to be deepening with every passing day for Siachen is a matter of some sensitivity for Pakistan. It considers the glacier to be disputed territory and the visit of the US army chief to this bitterly contested region can only be taken as a pointed snub delivered by the US to its proclaimed strategic ally in the region.
Gen Casey visited the glacier along with Indian Army chief General Deepak Kapoor.
For the record, the general's visit to the region is intended to study Indian expertise in high-altitude battlefield conditions, which could come in handy for US troops in the mountainous Afghanistan frontier abutting Pakistan.
The trip is part of Gen Casey's three day visit to India
Meanwhile, Islamabad's loud protest over Gen. Casey's visit to the glacier drew a blank in Washington where a senior US official not only confirmed the General's trip but also pointedly ignored the Pakistani protest.
"As you all know, Gen Casey is in India and he was up in Siachen today," Evan Feigenbaum, deputy assistant secretary for south and central Asian affairs, told an Indian media round table on Friday on US-India relations. "Exciting things are happening in defence."
On its part the Pakistani foreign office had said Thursday that "any such visit to an area which is disputed and which is under discussion between Pakistan and India will certainly cast a shadow on the ongoing composite dialogue between the two neighbours."
At Siachen, Indian army officials said, Gen Casey was first flown over the 70km glacier for an aerial view after which he landed there to acquaint himself with ground conditions. "This visit of the US army chief is for developing concept and medical aspect of fighting in severe cold conditions and high altitudes," an army official said.
The official said: "Siachen is best for such concept developing as it is a unique battle field."
The US army has to deal with infiltration of Taliban militants in the high altitude terrain of Afghanistan and the Indian Army official said "they want to learn from the Indian army to fight on such inhospitable, rough and rugged terrain".
Gen Casey returned to Delhi later in the day.
Siachen, at 18,000-22,000 feet, is the highest battle field in the world where Pakistan has failed to dislodge Indian positions even after years of fighting.
