The remains of an Indian army soldier who went missing on Siachen Glacier 38 years ago have been found.
On Wednesday, Indian officials announced the discovery of the remains of an Indian soldier on the Siachen glacier along the heavily militarized disputed border between India and Pakistan in Kashmir.
In May 1984, an avalanche struck the soldier and 17 other colleagues as they were occupying a ridge on the Siachen Glacier, high in the Karakoram Range.
Remains of thirteen soldiers were found, while five were still missing.
Associated Press reported that according to an identity disc retrieved from the remains by a team of soldiers on Monday at the glacier, the bones belonged to Chandra Shekhar, one of the missing soldiers.
Shekhar was a member of the first Indian army unit to take the 76km long glacier in 1984 amidst fierce combat with Pakistani troops.
The glacier is regarded as the highest battlefield in the world. Both countries have deployed troops at an elevation of 6,700 meters since 1984.
They have engaged in many clashes, although more Indian and Pakistani soldiers have lost life due to the harsh conditions than from enemy fire.
There have been no successful negotiations between India and Pakistan to demilitarize the glacier.
According to the Indian Army, Shekhar’s ashes were flown to his hometown in the northern Uttarakhand State of India following a funeral with full military honors on Wednesday.
