India has firmly rejected any illegal construction by China within its territory and unequivocally asserted its rightful ownership of the Shaksgam Valley.
Responding to media queries at the weekly briefing on May 2, 2024, official spokesperson of Ministry of external Affairs (MEA), Randhir Jaiswal has strongly declared India’s stance, emphasizing the rejection of the 1963 agreement between China and Pakistan, which unlawfully transferred the valley’s control to China.
Jaiswal’s firm statement asserts India’s right to safeguard its interests, firmly challenging both China and Pakistan. The Shaksgam Valley, historically part of India, serves as a critical link between China’s Xinjiang province and Pakistan’s Illegally Occupied Kashmir, making it strategically significant.
MEA Said:
“The Shaksgam Valley is a part of the territory of India. We have never accepted the so-called China Pakistan Boundary Agreement of 1963 through which Pakistan unlawfully attempted to cede the area to China, and have consistently conveyed our rejection of the same. We have registered our protest with the Chinese side against illegal attempts to alter facts on the ground. We further reserve the right to take necessary measures to safeguard our interests.”
Concern for India
China’s recent attempts to construct a road in the valley, particularly near the Aghil Pass, raise concerns for India’s security, especially in proximity to the Siachen Glacier, the world’s highest battlefield. China’s motives to bolster connectivity with Pakistan through the valley underscore India’s need to maintain vigilance and fortify its strategic positions in the region.
Background
In fact, in 1963, Pakistan had handed over the Shaksgam Valley spread over 5000 square kilometers to China. North of the Karakoram Mountain range (pass) in eastern Ladakh, this valley connects China’s Xinjiang province with Pakistan’s Illegally Occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Gilgit Baltistan. This area is very inaccessible. For the last several years, China has been trying to build a road in the Shaksgam Valley. Satellite images of open-source intelligence have revealed that China has built a road on the Aghil Pass of Shaksgam Valley.
China has tried to connect its G-219 highway to the Karakoram Range by building a road on the Aghil Pass. This will help to create a short route from China to Skardu and Hunza of Pakistan. Skardu, occupied by Pakistan, is close to Kargil in India. In such a situation, the road in Shaksgam Valley can be a strategic boost for India.
Currently, connectivity between China and Pakistan is through the Kashgar-Khunjerab-Gilgit road in Xinjiang, which is at a great distance from Depsang and Daulat Beg Oldi (DBO) in eastern Ladakh as well as Siachen. But by connecting Shaksgam Valley, China and Pakistan will come closer to the Depsang Plain and DBO in eastern Ladakh.
For the last four years, there has been tension between the armies of India and China in Depsang and DBO of eastern Ladakh. However, the dispute here has been going on since 2013 when the Chinese army had pitched its tents here and there was a faceoff for 25 days.
Recently, the Leh-based 14th Corps (Fire and Fury) of the Indian Army had made public the pictures of its deployment in Depsang Plain for the first time.
In light of escalating tensions between India and China in eastern Ladakh, India’s public display of military deployment in the Depsang Plain signals its unwavering resolve to defend its territorial integrity against any encroachment.