Sia La is a mountain pass situated on Saltoro Ridge some north-northwest of map point NJ9842 which defined the end of the 1972 Line of Control between India and Pakistan as part of the Simla Agreement.The fight for Siachen Sia La is under Indian control and sits near the Line of Actual Control between India and China and is immediately northwest of the upper part of the vast Siachen Glacier, connecting that glacier to the Pakistani-controlled Kondus Glacier and valley to the west.
The Saltoro Mountains Range, of which western slopes are held by Pakistan and separated by the Actual Ground Position Line (AGPL) the higher peaks and passes are held by India all of which remain snowbound throughout the year, provides access to Siachen Glacier to its east through five passes, i.e., listed from south to north are Chulung La (5,800m), Yarma La (6,100m), Gyong La (5,640m), Bilafond La (6,160m) - also called Saltoro La, and Sia La (7,300m).Ghazanfar Ali and Hassan Akhtar Ghani, Siachen-The world's highest battlefield; Military Technology; Bonn Vol. 22, Iss. 3, (Mar 1998): S15-S17.
Geopolitical issues
Sia La, as well as nearby passes Bilafond La and Gyong La, saw military action starting in 1984 during Operation Meghdoot, the first military action of the Siachen conflict, itself being part of larger conflict, the Kashmir conflict. All three passes are currently held by India. However, Pakistan controls a pass just to the west that overlooks Sia La, named Conway Saddle which has Pakistan Army's Leghari Observation Post (Leghari OP) on the Actual Ground Position Line (AGPL).
See also Near the AGPL (Actual Ground Position Line) NJ9842 LoC ends and AGPL begins Gyong La Chumik Glacier Saltoro Mountains Saltoro Kangri Ghent Kangri Bilafond La Indira Col, AGPL ends at LAC
Borders Actual Ground Position Line (AGPL) India–Pakistan International Border (IB) Line of Control (LoC) Line of Actual Control (LAC) Sir Creek (SC) Borders of China Borders of India Borders of Pakistan
Conflicts Kashmir conflict Siachen conflict Sino-Indian conflict List of disputed territories of China List of disputed territories of India List of disputed territories of Pakistan Northern Areas Trans-Karakoram Tract
Operations Operation Meghdoot, by India Operation Rajiv, by India Operation Safed Sagar, by India
Other related topics Awards and decorations of the Indian Armed Forces Bana Singh, after whom Quaid Post was renamed to Bana Top Dafdar, westernmost town in Trans-Karakoram Tract India-China Border Roads List of extreme points of India Sino-Pakistan Agreement for transfer of Trans-Karakoram Tract to China
References
Citations
External links Siachen Peace Park