India seeks authentication of positions

NEW DELHI, Dec. 27 (UPI) -- India says the last position held by its army in the disputed Siachen glacier must be authenticated before a decision is taken on troop withdrawal.

"If nothing is authenticated, it will all be in thin air, we have as a nation paid a heavy price in securing some of the dominating positions at Siachen," new army chief Gen. Deepak Kapoor told the Asian Age newspaper. "It is only realistic that those positions are authenticated by the other side."

He said Indian troops were suffering because of the harsh weather conditions in Siachen. He said snowstorms, avalanches and minus-50 degree temperatures were taking a heavy toll.

"We have become better, but how do you fight nature?" he asked, pointing out that casualties had been reduced substantially with better equipment, better clothing and better arrangements in place.

"You can do the best possible," he said.

He said casualties are virtually inherent in the situation because of the extreme and very harsh weather conditions and terrain.