Shaksgam Valley Dispute: India Stands Firm

India’s Stance on Shaksgam Valley

India has firmly rejected the 1963 agreement between Pakistan and China concerning the Shaksgam Valley, describing it as illegal. Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi emphasized on Tuesday that India does not approve of any activities in the region. “We do not approve of any activity in the Shaksgam Valley. Our external affairs ministry has already issued a statement on this. We consider it an illegal action being carried out by the two nations (Pakistan and China),” he stated.

China Reaffirms Territorial Claims

Amid growing tensions, China reiterated its territorial claims over the Shaksgam Valley on Monday, defending its infrastructure projects in the area as “beyond reproach.” This assertion comes in response to India’s objections and highlights the ongoing territorial disagreement between the two nations.

Historical Context of the Dispute

India asserts that in 1963, Pakistan illegally ceded 5,180 square kilometers of Indian territory in the Shaksgam Valley to China, despite having initially occupied it unlawfully. According to New Delhi, the Shaksgam Valley, located north of the Karakoram watershed, is an integral part of Jammu and Kashmir.

India’s Warning Over Infrastructure Development

Last week, India criticized China’s ongoing infrastructure projects in the disputed region, asserting that New Delhi reserves the right to take necessary measures to protect its territorial interests.

Ladakh Leadership Speaks Out

Ladakh Lieutenant Governor Kavinder Gupta reinforced India’s position, cautioning China that it was confronting the “Bharat of 2026, not of 1962.” He firmly rejected Beijing’s territorial claims over the Shaksgam Valley, stating that the entire region of Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) belongs to India.

Parliamentary Resolution and National Sovereignty

Gupta highlighted India’s 1994 parliamentary resolution affirming its claim over PoJK, emphasizing that any contradictory claims are invalid. “China should understand that nothing will be achieved through its expansionist policy. India is capable and it is not the India of 1962. It is the Bharat of 2026. Any such attempts will be foiled,” he declared.

Broader Territorial Disputes

The Lieutenant Governor also reminded that China has historically claimed parts of Arunachal Pradesh. Simultaneously, he criticized Pakistan for internal mismanagement, pointing to unrest and military control in regions like Balochistan, Sindh, and Karachi.

Ladakh’s Progress and Unity

Addressing local concerns, Gupta dismissed claims of unrest in Ladakh over demands for special status under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. He affirmed that the region is progressing, with Ladakhis remaining united, nationalistic, and supportive of government development initiatives.

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Sorit Chaudhary

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