India, Pakistan to discuss Siachen issue in June

Islamabad, May 11 (ANI): The Pakistan foreign ministry has said the country would host the next round of talks with India over the disputed Siachen Glacier on June 11-12, in Islamabad.

"Siachen is part of the dialogue process between India and Pakistan and defence secretary level talks on Siachen will be held on June 11 and 12 in Islamabad," The Dawn quoted foreign ministry spokesman Moazzam Ahmad Khan, as saying.

"We want to resolve all issues through meaningful and result-oriented dialogue, and Siachen is an issue which is a source of concern for both the countries," Khan added.

Troops from India and Pakistan have faced off on the glacier, situated high in the mountains of disputed Kashmir, since the 1980s, but calls for the stand-off to end have been growing after an avalanche on April 7 buried 140 people at a Pakistani army camp.

Previous rounds of negotiations between Delhi and Islamabad on Siachen have ended in stalemate.

Army Chief General Ashfaq Kayani had earlier called for a negotiated end to the confrontation and said the glacier should be demilitarised. (ANI)