Satellite images reveal that China is constructing a concrete road in a part of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) close to the Siachen Glacier. The road, located in the Shaksgam Valley, has raised security concerns for India as it is perceived as a strategic move by China to bolster infrastructure development in the region.
The road, branching out from Highway G219 in China’s Xinjiang, disappears into the mountains approximately 50 km north of India’s northernmost point, Indira Col in Siachen Glacier. The construction of this road was first observed by an observer known as 'Nature Desai' on X (formerly Twitter).
Experts point out that the Shaksgam Valley lies in the Trans-Karakoram Tract, historically part of Kashmir and claimed by India. Despite being captured by Pakistan in the 1947 war and later ceded to China in a bilateral agreement in 1963, India continues to assert its claim over this region, as evident in its official maps published after the abrogation of Article 370.
Concerns have been raised over potential security implications arising from the construction of this road. It is speculated that the road may facilitate the transportation of minerals, including uranium, from Gilgit Baltistan to Xinjiang. Moreover, there are apprehensions that the road could be used for military maneuvers by Pakistan and China in the region.
The presence of Chinese military infrastructure in the Shaksgam Valley, reported during border talks in 2022, has been a point of contention between India and China. India has protested against China's activities in the region, highlighting its lack of political legitimacy in the area.
While China's occupation of the Shaksgam Valley is considered temporary until the Kashmir issue is resolved, India maintains that all areas of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, including the Shaksgam Valley, are an integral part of the Indian territory. India has lodged diplomatic protests against China for its activities in the region, emphasizing its commitment to safeguarding its territorial integrity.
