A visit to the Siachen glacier, one of the longest in the Himalaya, is a heady brew. There is the romance of trekking and climbing in one of the last havens of unclimbed high peaks. There is history here of centuries of visits and exploration. Now there is the conflict of interest, by way of politics and war. There is bureaucracy to deal with and rules of the army to be followed to be on the glacier. But all these, believe me, are worth it.

I have been to the glacier several times, branching into different valleys, and still do not feel satisfied. For a soldier, who has defended this area with toil, sweat and blood we owe an appreciation and understanding of its facets.

Like all good things, even bad things also have to come to an end. Thus the two-decade long war on the Siachen glacier has to end, at lease as a cease fire. We mountaineers have worked towards a solution for peace and brought it to the doors of those in authority. It is now up to Indian and Pakistani governments to decide to give peace a chance so that this glacier is enjoyed again in a cleaner and more peaceful environment.