A cry for SOS...[Melting of Siachen glacier]
By Sophia Aziz

Based upon a research, scientists concluded about their specific region that, global warming has caused glaciers to retreat in last 20 years; or is it the other way round! Global warming or rising temperatures are inevitable due to thriving human population, resulting technological activities and its consequent affect on “The Natural Green- House Affect” in past 100 years. According to National Academy of Sciences, this rise in temperatures has intensified in last 20 years with South Asia as worse affected region, as per IPCC reports.

Ocean currents across the globe, moderates the temperatures world-wide. Glaciers’ retreat causing, disappearance of ice and rise in sea level, followed by frequent and intense hurricanes, tsunamis, cyclones and earthquakes, has been observed; undoubtedly declaring glaciers of the world a “Global Heritage”. Furthermore, extreme rainfall, floods, increased soil erosion, landslides, etc. and rise in glacial melting is only vice versa; proclaiming glaciers as “Volatile time bombs”, to be treaded very cautiously and certainly not as a play ground, let alone a ‘war ground’.

The unbiased reports on Melting of Himalayan Glaciers, particularly, melting of glaciers as a result of military intervention published by WWF Pakistan concludes an approximate 24% rise in sea level due to glacier melting can trigger more tsunamis and hurricanes, thus making more vulnerable, the communities living along the coastal areas, throughout the globe. Recommendations were made for close scrutiny in this regard to avoid further natural calamities. This only, strengthens further, the crucial findings of NASA, WGMS and various meteorological departments.

Departure of Britons, in 1947, seems as though was a farewell to the conflict resolution skills of the South Asians, too, as since then, most of table talks to resolve any issue between two sides of the boarder, has been creepily fruitless. Why so, when its evident that the learned and cultured regimes of both the countries do realize the gravity of the certain matters?

Siachen, world’s largest glacier and longest in non-polar region of South Asia, one such conflict of last 23 yrs, has been dealt-with coldly and carelessly; reducing volume by 35% in last 20 years, demonstrating retreat at the rate of 110 meters and rise in temperature by 0.2 °C, per annum is evidently endangering future of the global community. Can the worthy policy makers and strategists of this ecologically sensitive region take notice of much going hue and cry? What ‘holy signs’ are they still waiting for?

Movement of heavy traffic, artillery and troops mounting to 15000, across the region along with recently installed Bio-digesters, using kerosene oil for burning purposes in order to get rid of the human and other hazardous waste is only in addition to 5.300 meters high Tanglang la pass and 250 km plastic oil pipe-line causing high levels of carbon emission as well as other energy radiations. This is a grim attempt to play with Siachen as well as other 6500 known glaciers’ health by intruding the very receptive eco-system of these extraordinary sensitive areas. Aircrafts flown to reach Indra Col Post, at a height of 22,000ft, with 30% reduced efficiency but efficiently affecting fresh snow accumulation, are not just utilizing and wasting enormous resources in order to make the inhospitable environment, hospitable enough to carryout their hostile activities against the peaceful nature but a serious blow, to the already badly suffering economies; loosing ~16% of GDP to natural disasters of the countries with masses depicting a record poverty. These are the countries, fully equipped with nuclear power; its people suffering with poverty as most of the resources are prioritized to be utilized in this war-with-no-point-region. Aren’t we fully aware of the economic indicators, telling us about its high operating cost, when in absolute numbers, the people living under the poverty line are, on $2 per day criterion, 71.3 % in Pakistan and more than 80% of the population in India. It’s a fact that people here, are still fighting for peace and trying to eliminate poverty and upgrade their living conditions.

Can underdeveloped countries afford to waste their resources so luxuriously?

We certainly wish to feel proud of our fellow scientists, care takers and strategists, who are busy cleaning up the mess in order to make it ‘greener’; a similitude of New Murree Plantation Project and so many others, in which nature is destroyed in order to create an artificial ‘Natural’ environment to be benefited from. It’s a pity and sad, that the responsible ones are using their costly geniuses in deciding to carry-out the same at the world’s highest battlefield. Isn’t it an embarrassing diversion from the real issue of 2 billion people, who wish their rightful heritage to be saved by the just and unbiased hands from the life threatening clench of personal whims and wishes?

Results and studies carried out by the concerned and hence perplexed environmentalists only prove the worse fears. A fast exhaustion of largest natural resource of water supply to 500 million people of India alone, jeopardizing future of 400 million people residing cross the 20 km long coastline, temperatures dropping at impeccable rate, retreat of river Indus that is catering to 75% irrigational requirements of adjoining lands, degradation of human health as well as already endangered wild-life due to toxic waste of war debris ending in river banks, sinking of islands, tsunamis and even, fear of drought, are only few evident threats busy changing the face of Earth; not to mention the foreseen deteriorating living conditions of humans trapped in the region of South Asia, or is it just them!

Are we still naïve enough, not to notice what would be the results of human aggression on the Himalayan glaciers with millions of lives sacrificed for no good reason? This futile conflict is undoubtedly a similitude of white elephant projects, only more ferocious. Its not just consuming lavishly, all kinds of resources but repelling serious foreign investors.

Time is running short for any precautionary measures, but does our conscious allow us to desperately call for the preventive measures and thus pave way for some long awaited corrective measures on the basis of better late than never? Do we still not fore-see the ecological death of this continent and can we let nature follow its own natural course of inevitable transition rather than speeding it up towards destruction? Has war ever yielded a positive impact on human civilization?

The prized proposal of ‘Siachen Peace Park’, for the preservation of endangered species and conservation of its magnificent scenery was graciously offered by credible journalists and environmentalist to India and Pakistan in 2003; however, any planning regarding the same, is still awaited.

One must not deny an urgent need to join hands maturely and prove sincerity through actions, towards the tragedy stricken people of South Asia, simply by broadening our horizons via a mere shift of paradigms, hence, resolve this global issue. Damage already done, cannot be undone but, following the collaboration in other sectors, both the countries can establish a historical landmark, as per prudent suggestions of valued scientific researchers; thus stepping-up and saving the world.


Sophia Aziz is a geophysicist with special interest is environment management.
Contact: sophiaaziz@hotmail.com