Islamabad, Apr 17: The former prime minister of Pakistan and president of Muslim League (N), Mian Muhammad Nawaz Shareef, has said that it was high time that India and Pakistan should pullout their troops from Siachen.
These remarks were made by the PML-N chief while talking to news reporters at Sakardu on Tuesday. Shareef along with his party leaders dashed to the mountainous region to show solidarity with the families of Pakistani soldiers who were buried alive under a massive avalanche at the icy battlefield.
Shareef hailed the services rendered by Pak army as well as the people of the region. Expressing sympathy with the affected families, he said the soldiers of NLI (Northern Light Infantry) have played vital role in defending the frontiers of the country in a very critical situation. Shareef also distributed cheques worth Rs 500, 000 to the families of the affected soldiers at Skardu.
On the occasion, Shareef announced that the government of Punjab would provide job opportunities to the affected families. He also expressed his serious concern over the loss of precious lives as a result of recent sectarian violence in the region.
According to a private news channel, the former premier also visited the site of the avalanche in the Gayari sector of Siachen and reviewed the search and rescue efforts underway at the camp site.
The dispute between India and Pakistan over Siachen erupted some 28 years back. Since then the two countries have been deploying army and spending huge resources worth billions of dollars to maintain their presence at the highest battleground on the earth.
As a result of inhospitable and extremely unfavourable weather conditions the two countries have lost over 8,000 troops besides consuming billions of dollars. Recently Pakistan lost at least 139 people, including 124 servicemen and 11 civilians at Giyari Battalion headquarter which was hit by a massive avalanche in the first week of April 2012.
According to reports Pakistan spends rupees 15 million a day to maintain three battalions at the world’s highest battlefield, whereas, India spends approximately 50 million a day to maintain its troop presence in the area.

Lastupdate on : Tue, 17 Apr 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Tue, 17 Apr 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Wed, 18 Apr 2012 00:00:00 IST