News: In response to a statement by the India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson, a Chinese government spokesperson reaffirmed the country’s claims to the Shaksgam Valley.
About Shaksgam Valley
- Location: The Shaksgam Valley, also known as the Trans-Karakoram Tract, is a remote, high-altitude valley located north of the Karakoram mountain range.
- It lies in the Hunza–Gilgit region of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and is a disputed territory.
- Bordering Region: The valley borders China’s Xinjiang province to the north, Pakistan-occupied Kashmir to the south and west and the Siachen Glacier region to the east.
- Rivers: The valley is drained by the Shaksgam River which is a tributary of the Yarkand River (a river of Xinjiang region of China).
- Administered by: At present, the valley is administered by China as part of Xinjiang, although India claims it as its territory.
- Historical Background: Shaksgam Valley was part of the former princely state of Jammu and Kashmir.
- Pakistan gained control over the region during the 1947–48 conflict.
- In 1963, Pakistan ceded the Shaksgam Valley to China through the Sino-Pakistan Boundary Agreement.
- Subsequently, the Karakoram highway was constructed by China in this Valley.
- India has never accepted this agreement, stating that the 1963 China-Pakistan Boundary Agreement is illegal and invalid.
- Importance
- The valley is strategically important due to its proximity to the Siachen Glacier, which is the world’s highest militarised zone and also Karakoram passes.
- Control over the region affects India’s security posture in Ladakh and along the northern borders.
