On the eve of Army Day 2025 , Reliance Jio announced the deployment of high-speed 4G and 5G services in Siachen Glacier, the world’s highest and coldest battlefield.
About Siachen Glacier
- Type: A Piedmont Glacier.
- Length: The second-longest glacier in the world’s non-polar regions, after the Fedchenko Glacier in Tajikistan.
- Location:
- Situated in the Eastern Karakoram Range of the Himalayas.
- Lies northeast of Point NJ9842, where the Line of Control (LoC) between India and Pakistan ends.
- It lies North of Leh and East of Aksai Chin. Part of the Union Territory of Ladakh.
- Hydrology:
- The Nubra River, a tributary of the Shyok River, originates from the glacier.
- The Shyok River is part of the Indus River System.
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Piedmont Glacier
- Definition:
A piedmont glacier forms when valley glaciers spread out onto relatively flat plains at the base of mountains, creating broad, fan-shaped ice formations.
- Role:
- Acts as a significant reservoir of freshwater.
- Influences local climate and ecosystems.
- Plays a role in shaping landscapes through glacial erosion and deposition.
- Examples:
- Siachen Glacier in the Karakoram Range, India.
- Malaspina Glacier in Alaska, one of the largest piedmont glaciers globally.
- Fedchenko Glacier in Tajikistan, a prominent example in Central Asia.
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- Altitude: Originates at Indira Col West (6,115 m) and descends to 3,570 m.
- Administration: Controlled by India since 1984 under Operation Meghdoot.
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Strategic Significance of Siachen
- Geographical Significance
- Overlooks Gilgit-Baltistan (PoK): Dominates routes to Leh and provides strategic observation of Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir.
- Shaksgam Valley: Monitors the area ceded by Pakistan to China.
- Proximity to Karakoram Pass: Vital for overseeing the Karakoram Highway, linking Gilgit-Baltistan to China’s Xinjiang province.
- Strategic Buffer: Acts as a barrier between Pakistan and China, preventing deeper collaboration near critical areas like Kargil and Leh.
- CPEC Proximity: Close to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a major connectivity initiative that heightens security challenges for India.
- PLA Presence in Eastern Ladakh: Presence of 60,000 PLA forces near areas like the Daulat Beg Oldi (DBO) airfield intensifies strategic concerns.
- Two-Front War Challenge: Strengthening military ties between China and Pakistan increases the threat of simultaneous challenges on India’s western and northern borders.
17 Jan 2025
