UPDATE 1-Pakistan protests Indian trek on disputed glacier

(Adds new peace talks)

ISLAMABAD, Sept 17 (Reuters) - Pakistan summoned an Indian diplomat on Monday to protest against an Indian plan to open the disputed Siachen Glacier to tourists, saying the move could cast a shadow over their slow-moving peace process.

The Indian army is planning to take a group of trekkers to the Himalayan glacier, where rival forces have faced off since 1984 across what is known as the world's highest battlefield.

"The Indian deputy high commissioner was told that the Indian plans to open up the disputed territory for touristic purpose was viewed with deep concern by Pakistan," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Tasnim Aslam told a weekly briefing.

"The area remains a conflict zone and the reported move by India to open up Siachen for tourism could aggravate the situation with serious consequences that could vitiate the atmosphere for the ongoing peace process."

Nuclear-armed Pakistan and India launched a peace process in early 2004 after going in 2002 to the brink of their fourth war since independence in 1947.

The talks have led to an improvement in sporting, transport and diplomatic links but as yet no substantial progress on their main dispute -- the divided Himalayan region of Kashmir.

The two sides had agreed to a new round of talks on conventional and nuclear confidence building measures in New Delhi on Oct. 18 and 19, the Indian foreign ministry said.

A joint counter-terrorism panel formed last year would hold its second meeting on Oct. 22, also in the Indian capital, it said in a statement.