The decision by India to allow 'adventure tourism' to take place at Siachen has increased tensions in the area, Pakistan's Daily Times has reported.
Earlier this month India allowed an Indo-French expedition to undertake an expedition in the Siachen glacier as a prelude to promoting adventure holidays in the region, but the area is disputed between the governments of India and Pakistan.
Foreign ministry officials told the Daily Times this Tuesday that the glacier had been occupied by Pakistan before 1984, when National Geographic carried out a graphic report of Siachen with Indian government sponsorship.
"It is a fact that a group of French and Indian trekkers have already visited the controversial Siachen glacier without informing Pakistani authorities. On the basis of the success of this expedition, the Indian government has now decided to introduce adventure tourism," the Pakistani Foreign Ministry further added.
Officials said they were disappointed at India's decisions to allow Western trekkers in the area and to exploit it for commercial gain, given that it was disputed territory.
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