Siachen 1987 (Battle for the Frozen Frontier)

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About the Book The commander depends on his troops for the actual execution of plans, but the burden of decision-making rests with him. He will bask in the glory of success, but he must also face the brunt of failure.

In 1984, amid escalating tensions at the border between India and Pakistan, the Indian Army raised the 28 Infantry Division in Ladakh, which was responsible for safeguarding the entire northern stretch of the Indian border, including the Line of Control with Pakistan and the Tibetan/Chinese area of the Karakoram Pass.

Siachen, 1987: Battle for the Frozen Frontier tells the story of Lt Gen. Ramesh Kulkami's command of this infantry division, giving readers the rare opportunity to view the Siachen glacier and the army's involvement in the region through the lens of a commander.

This memoir gives a blow-by-blow account of the important combat operations during Kulkami's tenure - Operation Rajiv, in which the Quaid Post held by Pakistan was captured; and Operation Vajr Shakti, which was launched to secure the post from Pakistan's attempts to recapture it. In addition to the thrilling descriptions of military prowess, the book also touches upon the human cost of the Siachen conflict: being expected to thrive in treacherous terrain and an environment that has claimed innumerable lives.

Gritty and heartfelt, this is a tale of survival on the world's highest battlefield.

Preface IN EARLY 2020, before our lives were upended by the Covid-19 pandemic, I had decided to write about my Siachen tenure. My family was utterly surprised, considering I had studiously and most deliberately refused to write about this period for the longest time. It took me some time to get used to the decision as well, and for the first few months I struggled to begin with the actual penning down of my experiences. Not because I couldn't recall that period well enough. Quite the contrary, in fact. That whole stretch of time was so clearly etched in my memory that I could hear the voices of shared conversations while sipping chai at 20,000 feet. I could feel the biting chill of that wind that blew across the snows and the sweat that beaded my brow during intense decision- making.

Foreword FRENCH PHILOSOPHER MICHEL Eyquem de Montaigne (1533-59) wrote, "The only good histories are those that have been written by the persons themselves who commanded in the affairs whereof they write; rest is hearsay.' I am convinced that a book, like the one in your hand, could not have been written as well, be revealing and so full of emotions, had the author not personally commanded the events described in this book.

Most of the books on Siachen till now have dealt more with the terrain, the geopolitical dispute, how this sector was occupied, and the efforts made to resolve the dispute. This narrative is different. It is a personal story wherein the author describes how he dealt with battle situations, leadership issues, man management and bonding with his command, and logistical challenges on this highest battlefield on earth.

Introduction IT HAS BEEN a long time, perhaps too long. But thirty-five years later I feel I owe a debt to all those who made me the person I am: the fearless troops who were ready to lay down their lives for the decisions I had to take, the courageous officers who were determined to support those decisions, others who shaped me as a leader and commander, and finally a service that has defined and nurtured my physical tenacity and mental resilience. While my career is strewn with life-changing experiences, this account goes back to the year 1987 when I took over the command of 28 Infantry Division (28 Inf Div) in Ladakh, responsible for the sectors extending from the Zoji La in the west to the Karakoram Pass in the east: the entire northern stretch of the Indian border which includes the Line of Control (LoC) with Pakistan along with the Tibetan/Chinese area of the Karakoram Pass, called Sub Sector North (SSN).

One of the many reasons I am compelled to tell my story is because my tenure on the Siachen glacier was unique in innumerable ways. While we hadn't declared a full-fledged war against an enemy, we were forced into encounters by smaller groups extremely critical from the point of view of encounters that were national security. Added to this was the serious impact of facing the enemy at an altitude that proved challenging in myriad ways. As if staying alive was not a feat by itself, an ordinary soldier after acquiring the skills of a mountaineer and trekker had to remain fit and focused, knowing that success or failure of any mission would have enormous consequences for the country.