Pakistan offers to help rescue Indian soldiers buried under Siachen avalanche

This Feb. 1, 2005 file photo shows an aerial view of the Siachen Glacier, which traverses the Himalayan region dividing India and Pakistan, about 750 kilometers (469 miles) northwest of Jammu, India. An avalanche hit the Siachen Glacier in the Indian-controlled portion of Kashmir early Wednesday,Feb.3, 2016 trapping 10 Indian army soldiers in the snow. (AP Photo/Channi Anand, File)

Pakistan Army director general military operations (DGMO) called his Indian counterpart on Thursday and offered assistance for the rescue of Indian Army personnel who went missing after an avalanche hit the Siachen glacier area.

Ten Indian soldiers were feared buried in an avalanche that hit Siachen glacier in the India-held portion of Kashmir on Wednesday, The soldiers were hit while on duty at a post at an altitude of 19,000 feet.

However, the Indian DGMO declined Pakistan’s offer for help in rescuing Indian soldiers, saying necessary resources had already been put in place.

“During the conversation, he offered Pakistani help which was declined for now saying that enough resources have been put in place,” Times of India quoted sources as saying.

Avalanches and landslides are common at the Siachen Glacier during the winter and temperatures there can drop as low as minus 60 degrees Celsius.

In January four soldiers were killed by an avalanche, while last year another four died when their vehicle was buried under an avalanche near Leh, the main city in the high-altitude region known as Ladakh.

An estimated 8,000 troops have died on the glacier since 1984, almost all of them from avalanches, landslides, frostbite, altitude sickness or heart failure rather than combat.