Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Feb 26: Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar today declared that India will not vacate the Icy heights of Siachen Glacier in Ladakh sector of Jammu and Kashmir as there were apprehension that Pakistan could occupy them even as he announced comprehensive steps to prevent hacking of internet system of the defence forces that included establishment of Cyber Emergency Response Teams (CERTs) to check any such threats.
Replying to two separate questions by Harish Chandra alias Harish Dwivedi and Vasanthi M in Lok Sabha today, Parrikar declared that India will never vacate Siachen Glacier, where recently 10 Indian soldiers were killed in snow avalanche including Hanumanthapa, who survived for nearly a week, as Pakistan can occupy the strategic icy heights in absence of the Indian troops.
“We will not vacate the Siachen Glacier as once vacated, there were apprehensions that Pakistan could occupy them,’’ the Defence Minister said, adding that Pakistan can’t be trusted on this.
Asserting that Pakistan could occupy the positions if India vacates them, Parrikar recalled the experience of 1984 Siachen conflict and pointed out that Pakistan would have strategic advantage if they occupy the heights and Indian Army would have to lose many more lives to secure the heights again.
“We have been paying the price for manning the heights at around 23,000 feet from sea level. I know that. I know the problems of Indian Army but we have to maintain the heights. From strategic point of view, they are very important for us,’’ he said, adding that he didn’t think anyone in the House can take Pakistan’s words for granted.
It may be mentioned here that India occupied the highest point in Siachen Glacier, the Saltoro Ridge, which is located at 23,000 feet.
After the death of 10 Indian soldiers in first week of this month and large number of casualties suffered by Pakistan last year, a top Pakistan official had proposed de-militarization of Siachen.
The Defence Minister said so far 915 people have lost their lives during the last 32 years in Siachen, which comes to 28 lives every year. This has now been reduced to 10 lives every year.
Parrikar said constant medical support is given to those serving in the Siachen Glacier, which is six times more than the normal medical care. A total of 19 categories of clothing are provided to the soldiers in addition to various other assistance like snow scooters.
“There is no supply shortage. We can’t totally conquer nature,” he said.
Though no shots have been fired by either side (India and Pakistan) for past quite some time in the Glacier, both the countries have suffered casualties in the snow avalanches.
Replying to another question, Parrikar said it has been common practice for hackers/spies of Intelligence agencies to hack computer systems to gain intelligence about the target countries and added that there have been cyber attacks on some isolated internet connections of defence personnel.
“However, all computers employed for official work by the Defence forces are comprehensively isolated from the internet to obviate any breach. There has been no known or reported case of Intelligence agencies trying to steal our defence secrets through the use of Computer Storage Media,’’ the Defence Minister said.
Listing the preventive measures taken by the Defence Ministry to prevent cyber attacks by the hackers, Parrikar said the Ministry has established Cyber Emergency Response Teams (CERTs) to take care of threat, maintain physically segregated exclusive networks by the Armed Forces and institution of safeguards in form of audits, physical checks and policy guidelines.
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