India today welcomed Pakistan Army Chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani's remarks on resolving the Siachen issue and demilitarisation there and said the money spent on deployment of troops can be spent on development of the two countries.

Minister of State for Defence M M Pallam Raju told reporters at Hydrabad that the neighbouring country Pakistan is also realising the challenges and the economic problems of maintaining troops on the Siachen Glacier .

Observing that the deployment of troops in glacial heights take an economic toll, he said both the countries have their concerns.