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More than a week after a massive avalanche engulfed 124 soldiers soldiers and 11 civilians in the mountains of Pakistan --- hope of finding survivors were dim even as the army moves forward with a massive rescue operation.
Swiss and German teams assisted with efforts to recover bodies from this unforgiving environment where temperatures can dip to minus 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
Situated in the northern part of the Himalayan region of Kashmir ---- Pakistan and India have battled here for decades.
Irshad Moghul --- a soldier assigned to the base, comes from a long line of soldiers who have fought here.
The avalanche 11 days ago, however has his family and others in Pakistan wondering if its time to close the base for good.
His brother Basharat Moghul.
SOUNDBITE: Basharat Moghul saying:
"They should sit down and resolve this problem. And they should decide to vacate because India and Pakistan are both suffering heavy losses there."
SOUNDBITE: Maimoona Bibi, wife of soldier Irshad Moghul saying:
"He used to say that he wanted to die a martyr's death. But we are hoping that we get him back alive. I am not the only wife in this predicament; there are many other wives facing the same tragedy.
Last week Pakistan's president Asif Ali Zardari flew to India to discuss a tentative peace plan --- although for many in this area --- it will likely come too late.
Deborah Gembara, Reuters.
