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Should discuss all disputes including Siachen with India: COAS Kayani
SKARDU: Chief of the Army Staff, Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani Wednesday said that Pakistan followed the doctrine of peaceful coexistence with its neighbours especially India, Geo News reported.Talking to media, after reviewing search operation underway to unearth 139 martyred troops in Gayari sector buried under tons of snow, he said Pakistan was open to talks with India to de-militarize Siachen.
“Both countries should sit together to resolve all the issues including Siachen.”
He said the reason why was Pakistan Army was on the Siachen was not a secret to the world.
“ It were Indians who carried the war onto Siahcen forcing us to get up there and stop them in their tracks, we only mounted a natural tactical response”, Gen Kayani said.
COAS also made it clear that army was protecting country’s borders on Siachen.
“We are only manning the border on this frigid outpost in the line of duty.”
To a question, he said Siachen was an enormous burden on the taxpayers of both the neighbours.
“ Siachen consumes a mammoth amount of national exchequer, which must be diverted to the people of both countries respectively”, said Gen Kayani.
On Gyari rescue operation, he said, “We are trying to reach the bodies of the martyrs with all we are worth in the face of inclement weather, no stone has been left unturned, we are not far from them now”, said he.
Since the deadly avalanche on April 7 questions are being raised over the troop deployment in the hazardous terrain.
On Tuesday, PML-N president Nawaz Sharif while in Skardu also called upon Pakistan and India to withdraw their troops from Siachen.
Courtesy www.geo.tv