WELL DONE KASHMIR HEADLINES (KH)!

By : Shah Nadiya.

    Every good work done needs to b lauded and appreciated. But criticism has to go side by side because only appreciations cant do wonders. And same appreciations and criticisms are being showered on Kashmir Headlines by its Fans. I (though not known to it for a long time) have experienced a classless and an appreciable job being done by Kashmir Headlines. It is NOT confined to the NEWS HEADLINES only but its Religious posts are equally worth praising. KH has been instrumental in focusing on the issues dat need our prime concern.

     Working amid the showers of praises and at the same time some criticism, KH is passing through that stage where (i feel ) it will surely pave its way towards a destination of everlasting fame ang prosperity. Every time trying to give its best o the members, KH has never let its fans to feel it vile and worthless. Trying to change the mental set up of society towards various evils that are being carried out with out any hesitation it tries to wake up the youth from the deep slumber v are in.

"Galat uthay na Qadam is Jahan Faani mai ,

Buray khayal say har waqt tujhko darna hai .

Tou naaz na kar hayat i duniya par

ki eik din tujhay is dahar say guzarna hai"

     These lines as if are conveyed by KH in its Islamic Posts which at times prove to be thought provoking. These posts tend to calm our passions which at tymz leave us in the trap of a much horrible Phantasma. For the understanding ones , the Islamic posts are very beneficial for making our SELF PREPARED rules and laws to fade away and get replaced by what actually the rule of life according to Islam is!

     The newly introduced KH editorial is a step that ought to be lauded. It is a nice platform for the writers who want to share their ideas and thoughts without any restrictions and which ultimately leads to a better understanding of the issues and their better solutions. 

Everything it is doing is commendable but it would b more better if the menace of social evils be highlighted to a larger extent . It can be even done by having an open discussion on any topic which can lead to a better understanding of the repercussions of these evils. A simple suggestion !!!!!!!

WELL DONE Kashmir Headlines . KEEP ON GOING.......

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Scientific benefits for having a Beard!

Let us look at the benefits of males wearing a beard. Doctor Daniel G. Freeman, of University of Chicago, did research on the reproductive value of male beardedness. To test his theory Doctor Freedman and his graduate students asked a group of undergraduates about their feelings about beardedness by giving them questionnaires and interviewing them. Furthermore, on e of the graduate students interviewed seven women about their feelings towards men with beards. The female students rated a bearded male face as more masculine, independent, sophisticated and mature compared to a clean-shaven male face. They concluded from their studies that beard increases "sexual magnetism" and attractiveness and makes men more appealing to women. The presence of a beard makes a man appear more masculine to women, and she feels more feminine towards him.

This research carried out by Doctor Freedman in the field of social psychology shows that the presence of a beard on man's face makes him more sexually attractive to women.

MAN'S PERSONALITY

In a 1973 issue of psychology , Robert J. Pelligrini, a psychologist from California State University published the results of an experiment on the perception as a function of different state of beardedness or beardlessness. To carry out the experiment, Pelligrini hired eight full-bearded young men from the ages of 22-25 years, who were willing to have their beards completely shaved off. All men were professionally photographed in each of the following states:

Full beard 

Goateed 

Mustached 

Clean shaven 

Upon completion of the photographic sessions, there were a total of thirty two photographs i.e. four photos of each of the eight men. In the experiment, those photos were randomly distributed to subjects who were asked to rate their first impression based on a number of personality traits. The subjects who evaluated the photos compromised 64 male and 64 female psychology students. Hence, each photo was judged by two males and two females.

The result of this study by Pelligrini indicated a generally positive correlation between the amount of hair on the person's face and his being perceived as masculine, good looking, dominant, mature, courageous, liberal, non-confirming, older healthy and attractive.

MEDICAL BENEFITS

According tot he researches of herbalists, allowing the beard to grow prevents a person from contracting diseases of the throat and of the gums.

AN AMERICAN DOCTOR CHARLES HOLMES...

States, "I don't understand why people feel uncomfortable growing a beard. When people have hair on their heads then what is the problem with keeping the hair on the face. If a person is suffering from loss of hair on the head then the person feels shy but it is astonishing that people today shave their beard with pleasure. A long beard saves a person from the cold affects reaching the neck....

We find that the beard is not only a command of the sacred law but beneficial for a person too. The Doctors and Philosophers of many years ago would keep a beard; take for instance, Charles Darwin, Louis Pastar, Abrahim Lincon and many others. It is only recently people have been removing it

THE JOB INTERVIEW

A person went for an interview once and he got the job with the condition that he removed the beard. The person refused and left the interview room. On his way out he saw a picture depicting Jesus on the wall. Taking this off he presented this to the interviewers and said, 'If Jesus came to the interview, would you have told him the same.' The interviewers were dumbfound, the person left leaving the picture with them. This is the attitude Muslims should have, meaning, if you want our expertise then you take us as we are physically and spiritually.

MYTHS

You may hear that some people say that bacteria grows in the beard is unhygienic. The answer tot that is shaving the beard rid natural cells from the face, hence leading to cancer of the face. The question to ask is that how can the beard have bacteria when one washes it five times a day whilst doing ablution.

SAVE YOURSELF

Another benefit of the beard is that it saves a person from a sin. For instance you can change your clothes and become one of the common people, however, the beard differentiates from a believer to a non-believer. So a person will think twice before going to a place which are disallowed.

TIME WASTED IN SHAVING

Doctor Herbert Mescon from Boston University calculated that if a teenager begins shaving at the age of 15, then in his 55 or so years of shaving, he is likely to spend approximately 3350 hours, equivalent to 139 days, at this task in his lifetime.

WHERE DOES THE HAIR GO?

A man should think, how can he possibly place the hair which Allah, The Exalted, has commanded him to keep and practice of the Messenger, May Allah bless him and grant him peace, down the same drain pipe as one urinates, Is this the respect we have for the practice loved by the Prophet? We are so weak in faith that we want to follow the practices of the west rather than the Prophet. We are living in such a time where the women are wearing shirt and pants and trimming their hair, whilst the male are disfiguring themselves with rings on their faces. If a person does not keep a beard then how can he be recognized as a male, may Allah have mercy on us.

Scientific benefits for having a Beard

1 A beard protects the face from harmful chemicals, and pollution in the air, which will cause cell damage, and increase wrinkling and bad skin. So keeping a beard protects your skin from the elements, reduces wrinkles, ageing, and bad skin. 

2 The beard covers the skin, which protects the sebaceous glands from being infected by acne vulgaris bacteria, thus preventing acne/spots/pimples! 

3 Keeping your face warmer and protects your chin from dangers. 

4 It prevents disease of throat and gums. 

5 Most of the respiratory problems are prevented by keeping beard. 

6 It is the identity for a man with respect to woman. 

7 Research says the longer and thicker the beard the wiser the person is supposed to be. 

8 What is the total time spent in shaving by a man in his whole lifetime? Dr. Herbert Mescon from Boston University did research to give an answer to this question. Dr. Mescon calculated that if a teenager begin shaving at the age of 15, then in his 55 or so years of shaving, he is likely to spend about 3350 hours (which are equivalent to about 139 full days) at this task in his lifetime. That is an incredible amount of time which literally goes down the drain. You can add to it thousands of dollars one spends during his lifetime on products for shaving (razors, shaving gels, after-shave lotions etc).

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That Is Why They Attack Our Religion!

Article By: Imtiyaz Ahmad

When I watch news on TV , i feel upset, wars in Muslims countries everywhere, media against Islam , people amuse themselves by writing sarcastic articles about Islam and Muslims in newspapers even in Muslim countries , when a Muslim person do a mistake you will find it shared everywhere, TV programs talking about it, newspapers, magazines, internet, all people will talk about it and give bad attitude against Islam, but when someone else do a mistake nobody will judge him or talk about him sometimes i wonder why this hate against our great peaceful religion until i cry ...

I ask myself : why do they try to tarnish our religion with those ways??!!!

Then i remember when Allah the almighty say :

""...And they will continue to fight you until they turn you back from

your religion if they are able..."" (Quran: 2/217)

""And never will the Jews or the Christians approve of you until you

follow their religion..."" (Quran: 2/120)

""Many of the People of the Scripture wish they could turn you back to disbelief after you have believed, out of envy from themselves [even] after the truth has become clear to them. So pardon and overlook until Allah delivers His command. Indeed, Allah is over all things competent."" (Quran:2/109)

When i read those verses i understand why people try to attack our religion and tarnish it so i remain patient because i know that Our Muslim Ummah falls ill but does not die and it weakens but it does not end, and will not be defeated And Allah the almighty promised us that Islam will the dominating religion :

"It is He who has sent His Messenger with guidance and the religion of truth to manifest it over all religion, although they who associate others with Allah dislike it " (Surat At-Tawbah_33)

So Alhamdulillah for everything. 

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Agreements that work (Indus waters, Rann of Kutch)

Indus Waters Treaty, 1960.

Article By: SALFI AZHAR

Despite the many areas of dispute and difference between India and Pakistan, there are also some areas of cooperation. One such area of cooperation has been the Indus Waters Treaty that has stood the test of time between the two countries which was negotiated by the World Bank and signed by India and Pakistan in 1960. The World Bank is a signatory to the treaty as a third party.

Conflicting claims and arguments regarding the use of water from the Indus River system between India and Pakistan after their independence led to third party negotiation by the World Bank which began in 1951. Along with the treaty that was signed, it was also agreed to set up a Permanent Indus Commission, made up of one Commissioner of Indus Waters from each country in order to a) establish and promote cooperative arrangements for the treaty implementation; b) promote cooperation between the Parties in the development of the waters of the Indus system; c) examine and resolve by agreement any question that may arise between the Parties concerning interpretation or implementation of the Treaty; d) submit an annual report to the two governments.

Any future ‘difference’ had to be referred to a neutral expert who would be appointed by the World Bank. However, ‘disputes’ are to be decided upon by a Court of Arbitration and in case there are only ‘questions’ about the treaty, they will have to dealt with by the Permanent Indus Commission. Such a ‘difference’ had recently arisen when Pakistan objected the building of the Baglihar dam on the Chenab River (one of the rivers comprising the Indus river system) in Jammu and Kashmir by India. The World Bank eventually appointed Professor Raymond Lafitte in 2005 when at the request of the government of Pakistan. The expert took a decision in February 2007 which was welcomed by both India and Pakistan.

Despite the fact that the treaty look a long period of negotiations to before it could be signed, the Indus Waters Treaty could be considered as one of the most successful bilateral treaties between the two South Asian neighbors.

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Tips for Adjusting to Your New College Life!

Article By: Muzaffar Mir

Making the transition from high school to college life can be difficult. It is easy to become discouraged, overwhelmed, and homesick. Here are a few tips that will make the transition to college life a little easier.

College Transition Statistics:

1) College student stress levels have been rising steadily since 1985.

2) 30 percent of freshmen report feeling overwhelmed.

3) There has been a 40 percent increase in the number of students who

seek some form of mental health counseling the first year of college.

Many students have expectations of college before they make it to the dorm room. These expectations are often influenced by movies and television or preconceived notions. The chances of college meeting these expectations are unlikely. After all, real life doesn't work like TV or the movies. For this reason, college can sometimes feel like a disappointment. But you shouldn't become discouraged. Not every student immediately adjusts during the first few weeks or even the first semester.

If you find it's difficult to adjust to college life, you'll need to give yourself some time, and keep the following in mind:

You are in Charge of Your Time

For many students, college means more freedom. Along with this new found freedom, responsibility follows. Being responsible involves being able to manage your time, which may seem easy in theory.

However, you may not be used to the amount of work that college professors expect. There are also extracurricular activities to consider.If you take on too much, you may find yourself struggling to balance your commitment to school and your commitment to clubs or other organizations you join. Using a planner to help you stay organized is highly recommended. You may also try to make time for your coursework ahead of time, so you can determine what extracurricular activities you will have time for.

It's Important to Keep an Open Mind

When you first move to college, you're going to be in a new place, handling new situations. You may be living with someone you've never met before. You may be introduced to different types of people who you may not have associated with during high school.

When dealing with these types of situations, you need to keep an open mind. Being open-minded may help you connect with different people and help you deal with situations better. College isn't just about learning facts and theories from textbooks. A large part of college involves learning how to be an adult. By being open minded, you may learn different things about other people or even about yourself, which may help you shape what type of an adult you become. Remember being open minded doesn't mean you have to compromise your beliefs or feelings. It involves being respectful and understanding of others.

Home is Only a Phone Call or Instant Message Away

If going away to college is the first time you've been away from home or your hometown for a long period of time, it's natural to feel homesick.Although you're homesick, you may want to try to give your college campus a chance. Don't be too pessimistic. Yes, your college may be nothing like home. You may not have friends from your high school. Your family may not be nearby. You may not have your favorite pet with you. Your favorite restaurant may not be a few streets away. All these things may be true, but being at college may also provide you with the opportunity to experience new things.

And if things get too bad, home is only a phone call or instant message away. The family and friends you left behind will be just as happy to hear from you as you are to speak to them.

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And it Iz My LAND!!!!!!!!

BY : SHAH NADIYA.

Phantasma is it nw 4 u and 4 me bt still me is living and u surviving. I am a rebel in ma own valley . Threatnd n tortured am I. Stagnant and un noticed pools of blood evry where , askng 4rm us smthng . But Alas ! No solid answer to the queries. Painful tales and woes rent the air . Every home has a painful tale to tell. Alas! My Kashmir is a burning land wantng its flame to subside . On paper kashmiri is liberal , in reality i am in chains. I am afraid to move freely , my evry step is investigatd . Is it ma land? Am I its native? 

Oh! My land has been desertd , the innocent smiles are missing , childhood is lost smvr , pain supplanting peace, the exotic n enchant beauty is bleak . . . I am living but lost , lost in the worries , in the despisng attitude towards me . . Alas! I could nt find ma identity but yeah I am a Kashmiri. .

My heart cries out , speaks out and rents the air with . . . 

" Maeray chaman ki kaliyaan roati hain khoun k aansoun ,

za'alim ny roand da'ala louta shehar sunehra. 

Madham padhi hai lehrain , pheeki padhi nigahain ,

har soo hai gilay shkway rahain hain khaali khaali. 

Har aahat hai eik khouf , har nigah hai yeh keh rahi ,

bae bas kat rahay hain baesahara roa rahay hain . 

Kya hoa raha hai shehar main kiun mar rahay hain hum ,

kiun mazloum hain hm , kiun laachaar hain hm. 

Kya ghazab ho raha hai hm pai , kiun koi na pehchaany ,

Ya Allah yaeh kaisi ghadi hai , yaeh kaisa hai mausam":( 

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A Description of Hell fire: An Introduction

Article By: Muzaffar Mir

Islam teaches that Hell is a real place prepared by God for those who do not believe in Him, rebel against His laws, and reject His messengers. Hell is an actual place, not a mere state of mind or a spiritual entity. The horrors, pain, anguish, and punishment are all real, but different in nature than their earthly counterparts. Hell is

the ultimate humiliation and loss, and nothing is worse than it. “Our Lord! Surely, whom You admit to the Fire, indeed You have disgraced him, and never will the wrongdoers find any helpers.” (Quran 3:192)

“Know they not that whoever opposes God and His Messenger (Muhammad), certainly for him willbe the Fire of Hell to abide therein? That is the extreme disgrace.” (Quran 9:63) The Names of Hell Hell Fire has different names in Islamic texts. Each name gives a separate description. Some of its names are: Jaheem – fire - because of its blazing fire. 

Jahannam - Hell - because of the depth of its pit. Ladthaa - blazing fire - because of its flames. Sa’eer - blazing flame - because it is kindled and ignited. Saqar - because of the intensity of its heat. Hatamah - broken pieces or debris - because it breaks and crushes everything that is thrown into it. Haawiyah - chasm or abyss - because the one who is thrown into it is thrown from top to bottom Paradise and Hell Presently Exist and are Eternal, Hell exists at the present time and will continue to exist forever. It will never pass away and its inhabitants will remain in it forever. Traditional Muslim belief is that no one will come out of Hell except sinful believers who believed in the Oneness of God in this life and believed in the specific prophet sent to them. The polytheists and unbelievers will reside in it forever. This belief has been held from classical times and is based on clear verses of the Quran and confirmedreports from the Prophet of Islam. The Quran speaks of Hell in the past tense and states that it has already been created: “And fear the Fire which is prepared for the disbelievers.” (Quran 3:131)

The Prophet of Islam said:

“When any of you dies, he is shown his position (in the Hereafter) morning and evening. If he is one of the people of Paradise, he is shown the place of the people of Paradise. If he is one of the people of Hell, he is shown the place of people of Hell. He is told, ‘this is your position, until God resurrects you on the Day of Resurrection.” (Saheeh Al-Bukhari, Saheeh Muslim)

In another report, the Prophet said:

“Surely, the soul of a believer is a bird hanging onthe trees of Paradise, until God returns it to his body on the Day of Resurrection.” (Muwatta of Malik) These texts make it clear that Hell and Paradise exist, and that souls may enter them before the Day of Resurrection. Speaking of Hell’s eternity, God says:

“They will long to leave the Fire, but never will they leave there from; and theirs will be a lasting torment.” (Quran 5:37)

“And they will never leave of the Fire.” (Quran 2:167)

“Surely, those who disbelieve and did wrong; God will not forgive them, nor will He guide them to any way except the way of Hell, to dwell therein forever.” (Quran 4:168-169)

“Surely, God has cursed the disbelievers, and has prepared for them a flaming Fire wherein they will abide for ever.” (Quran 33:64)

“And whosoever disobeys God and His Messenger, then surely, for him is the fire of Hell, he shall dwell therein forever.” (Quran 72:23)

The Keepers of Hell, Mighty and stern angels stand over Hell who never disobey God. They do precisely as ordered. God says:

“O you who believe, save yourselves and your families from a Fire whose fuel is men and stonesover which are (appointed) angels, stern and severe, who flinch not (from executing) the commands they receive from God, but do (precisely what) they are commanded.” (Quran 66:6)

They are nineteen keepers of Hell as God says:

“Soon I will cast him into Hell Fire. And what will explain to you what is Hellfire? Nothing does it allow to endure, and nothing does it leave alone! Darkening and changing the color of man! Over it are nineteen (angels as keepers of Hell).” (Quran 74:26:30)

One should not think that the inhabitants of Hell will be able to overcome the keepers of Hell because there are just nineteen of them. Everyone of them has the strength to subdue all humanity by himself. These angels are called the Guards of Hell by God in the Quran:

“And those in the Fire will say to the Guards of Hell, “Call upon your Lord to lighten for us the torment for a day!” (Quran 40:49) 

The name of the chief angel guarding over Hell is Malik, as mentioned in the Quran:

“Surely, the disbelievers will be in the torment of Hell to abide therein forever. (The torment) will not be lightened for them, and they will be plunged into destruction with deep regrets, sorrows and in despair therein. We wronged them not, but they were the wrongdoers.

And they will cry: ‘O Malik! Let your Lord make an end of us’ He will say: ‘Surely, you shall abide forever.’Indeed We have brought the truth to you, but most of you have a hatred for the truth” (Quran 43:74-78) Its Location There is no exact mention from the Quran or the sayings of Prophet Muhammad which pinpoint the location of Hell. No one knows its exact place except God. Due to some linguistic evidence and context of certain hadeeth, some scholars have stated that Hell is in the heavens, yet others say itis in the lower earth.

Its Size, Hell is huge and immensely deep. We know this through several ways. First, innumerable people will enter Hell, each, as described in a hadeeth, with the molar teeth as large as a small mountain.

[1] The distance between the shoulders of its inhabitants has alsobeen described as being equivalent to three days of walking.

[2] Hell will house all the unbelievers and sinners from the beginning of time and there will still be room for more. God says: “On the Day when We will say to Hell: ‘Are you filled?’ It will say, ‘Are there any more (to come)?’” (Quran 50:30)

The Fire of Hell is likened to a mill that grinds thousands and thousands of tons of grain and then waits for more to come. Second, a stone thrown from the top of Hell will take a very long time to reach the bottom. One ofthe companions of the Prophet, may God praise him, describes how they were sitting with the Prophet and heard the sound of something falling. The Prophet inquired if they knew what it was. When they expressed their lack of knowledge, he said:

“That was a stone thrown into Hell seventy yearsago and it is yet in the way (the other side) of Hell until now.”

[3] Another report states: “If a stone as big as seven pregnant camels was thrown from the edge of Hell, it would fly through it for seventy years, and yet it would not reach the bottom.”

[4] Third, a great many angels will bring Hell on the Day of Resurrection. God speaks of it:

“And Hell will be brought near that Day.” (Quran 89:23)

The Prophet said:

“Hell will be brought forth that Day by means of seventy thousand ropes, each of which will be held by seventy thousand angels.”

[5] Fourth, another report that indicates the vast sizeof Hell is that the sun and moon will be rolled up in Hell on the Day of Resurrection.

[6] Its Levels Hell has various levels of heat and punishment, each is reserved according to the extent of their disbelief and sins of those being punished. God says:

“Surely, the hypocrites will be in the lowest depths (grade) of the Fire.” (Quran 4:145) The lower the level of Hell, the greater is the intensity of heat. Since the hypocrites will suffer the worst punishment, so will they be in the lowest part of Hell.

God refers to the levels of Hell in the Quran:

“For all will be (ranked) by degrees according to what they did.” (Quran 6:132)

“Is one who seeks the good pleasure of God thenlike the one who draws on himself the wrath of God? His abode is Hell – and worst, indeed, is thatdestination! They are in varying grades with God, and God is All-Seer of what they do.” (Quran 3:162-163)

The Gates of Hell God speaks of seven Gates of Hell in the Quran: “And surely, Hell is the promised place for them all. It has seven gates, for each of these gates is a class of sinners assigned.” (Quran 15:43-44)

Each gate has an allotted share of the damned who will enter through it. Each will enter according to his deeds and assigned a level of Hell accordingly. When the unbelievers are brought toHell, its gates will open, they will enter it, and stay in it forever: “And those who disbelieved will be driven to Hell in groups until, when they reach it, its gates are opened and its keepers will say, ‘Did there not come to you messengers from yourselves, reciting to you the verses of your Lord and warning you of the meeting of this Day of yours?’They will say, ‘Yes, but the word (meaning the decree) of punishment has come into effect upon the disbelievers.’” (Quran 35:71)

They will be told after admission: “Enter the gates of Hell to abide eternally therein,and wretched is the residence of the arrogant.” (Quran 39:72) The gates will be shut and there will be no hope of escape as God says: 

“But those who reject Our signs, they are the companions of the left hand. On them will be Fire vaulted over (meaning the gates will be locked).

[7]” (Quran 90:19-20)

Furthermore, God says in the Quran: “Woe to every scorner and mocker, who collects wealth and (continuously) counts it. He thinks that his wealth will make him immortal. No! He will surely be thrown into the Crusher. And what can make you know what is the Crushers? It is the fire of God, (eternally) fueled, Which mounts directed at the hearts. Indeed, it (Hellfire) will be closed down upon them in extended columns.” (Quran 104:1-9)

The gates of Hell are also closed before the Day ofJudgment. The Prophet of Islam spoke of them closing in the month of Ramadan.

[8] Its Fuel Stones and stubborn unbelievers make the fuel of Hell as God says:

“O you who have believed, protect yourselves and your families from a Fire whose fuel is people and stones.” (Quran 66:6)

“then fear the Fire, whose fuel is men and stones,prepared for the disbelievers.” (Quran 2:24)

Another source of fuel for Hell will be the pagan gods that were worshipped besides God:

“Indeed, you (disbelievers) and what you worship other than God are the firewood of Hell. You will be coming to (enter) it. Had these (false deities) been (actual) gods, they would not have come to it, but all are eternal therein.” (Quran 21:98-99)

The Clothing of its Inhabitants God tells us that the dress of the people of Hell will be garments of fire tailored for them:

“But those who disbelieved will have cut out for them garments of fire. Poured upon their heads will be scalding water.” (Quran 22:19)

“And you will see the criminals that Day bound together in shackles, their garments of liquid pitch (melted copper) and their faces covered by the Fire.” (Quran 14:49-50)

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Siachen Glaciers!

Article By: Salafi Izhar

Sometimes referred to as the third pole, the world’s second largest non- polar glacier known, as the Siachen Glacier has been yet another troublesome spot in a series of conflicts between India and Pakistan. Since 1984, both sides are trying to establish their supremacy over the Siachen glacier, which demarcates Central Asia from the Indian Subcontinent and separates Pakistan from China. Located in Ladakh (J&K) along the eastern Karakoram Range in the Himalaya Mountains, this inhospitable terrain where the cost of a single loaf of bread is Rs. 10000, stretches to 78Kms and situated at an altitude of 5,472 metres above sea level has taken heavy toll of men and resources on both India and Pakistan. 

The Status Quo Conflict 

Alarmed by the reports of some news magazines about the Pakistani presence in the hitherto unclaimed glaciers, the Indian army in April 1984 carried out an operation code-named "Meghdoot" and established permanent posts at the Siachen Glacier. The Indian army controls Siachen heights, holding on to the tactical advantage of high ground. Interestingly, the Pakistani soldiers cannot go up to the Glacier and the Indian forces cannot come down. Originally known as Saicher Gharni, the Siachen means the place of roses (Sia-rose, chen-place of). The fight for the Siachen Glacier involves territory claimed by both states but not controlled by either until the mid-1980s. India controls about two-thirds of the Glacier, which includes all the three passes including the Gyong La Pass that overlooks Shyok and Nubra river valleys and India's access to the Glacier from the Leh district in Ladakh. The other two passes being Sia La pass and Bilfond La pass. The glacier’s melting waters are the main source of the Nubra River, which falls into the Shyok River. The Shyok in turn joins the Indus River, crucial to both India and Pakistan. 

The roots of the conflict over Siachen lie in the non-demarcations on the western side of the map beyond a grid point known as NJ 9842. Hostilities between India and Pakistan over ownership of the Glacier date back to the first Indo-Pak war of 1948, over the territorial dispute of Jammu & Kashmir. A Cease-Fire Line (CFL) was established because of the 1949 Indo-Pak agreement that concluded the war in Jammu & Kashmir. The CFL ran along the international Indo-Pak border and then north and northeast until map grid-point NJ 9842, located near the Shyok River at the base of the Saltoro mountain range. Because no Indian or Pakistani troops were present in the geographically inhospitable northeastern areas beyond NJ 9842, the CFL was not delineated as far as the Chinese border. Both sides agreed, in vague language, that the CFL extends to the terminal point, NJ 9842, and "thence north to the Glaciers". 

After the 1965 India-Pakistan war, the Tashkent agreement resulted in troop withdrawals to positions along the 1949 CFL. No attempt was made to extend the CFL further. Following Pakistan's defeat in the 1971 war with India, the Simla Agreement of 1972 established a new Line of Control (LoC) because of the December 1971 cease-fire. The Siachen Glacier region, where no fighting had taken place, was left un-delineated, and no attempt was made to clarify the position of the LoC beyond NJ 9842. The LoC was merely described as moving from Nerlin (inclusive to India), Brilman (inclusive to Pakistan), up to Chorbat La in the Turtok sector. 

During her tenure as Prime Minister of Pakistan, Ms Benazir Bhutto, visited the area west of Gyong La, making her the first premier from either side to get to the Siachen region. On June 12, 2005, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh became the first Indian Prime Minister to visit the area, calling for a peaceful resolution of the problem. In the previous year, the President of India, Abdul Kalam became the first head of state to visit the area. India based Jet Airways plans to open a chartered service to the glacier's nearest air link, the Thoise airbase, mainly for military purposes. Pakistan's PIA flies tourists and trekkers daily to Skardu, which is the jumping off point for K2, the world's second highest point just 33 kilometers (20.5 miles) northwest of the Siachen area. 

The present scenario 

The Indian army holds a tactical advantage over the Pakistanis because of the high ground Indians are occupying. The Pakistanis control the glacial valley just five kilometers southwest of Gyong La. The line where Indian and Pakistani troops are presently holding onto their respective posts is being increasingly referred to as the Actual Ground Position Line (AGPL). 

The Pakistanis have been unable get up to the crest of the Saltoro Ridge (lying west of the glacier), while the Indians cannot come down and abandon their strategic high posts. A ceasefire went into effect in 2003. Even before then, every year more soldiers were killed because of severe weather than enemy firing. The two sides have lost an estimated 2,000 personnel primarily due to frostbite, avalanches and other complications. Both nations have 150 manned outposts along the glacier, with some 3,000 troops each. Official figures for maintaining these outposts are put at ~$300 and ~$200 million for India and Pakistan respectively. India has built the world's highest helipad on this glacier at a place called Sonam, which is at 21,000 feet (6,400 m) above the sea level, to serve the area. India also installed the world's highest telephone booth on the glacier. Both sides have been wishing to disengage from the costly military outposts but after the Kargil War in 1999 where Pakistan sent infiltrators to occupy vacated Indian posts across the Line of Control, India has backed off from withdrawing in Siachen. India may feel that the same thing may happen if they vacate their Siachen Glacier posts without any official confirmation of their positions. 

With recent parleys between India and Pakistan, the conflict is actually shaping into a protracted one. The talks have ended without reaching any major breakthrough, although both sides have reaffirmed their commitment to abide by 2003 ceasefire. While India has refused to withdraw its troops from the glacier until Pakistan officially authenticates the positions held by the two sides before withdrawal. "Pakistan will have to demarcate the AGPL - both on the ground as well as on the map -- before any headway is made on the Siachen issue,” says Defense Minister AK Anthony while briefing the reporters on his maiden trip to the area on 5 May 2007. Pakistan responded to this statement by saying that Islamabad has all along maintained that it would authenticate the AGPL, as it existed in 1984. Pakistani officials have now been quoted as saying Islamabad would agree to verify the present troop positions only if India promised not to legally enforce the boundary.

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