Opinion: Controversy on Shaksgam Valley persists

The Chinese Foreign Office has stated that the Construction of Road in the Shaksgam Valley is legitimate, as it is in their Area. This construction of road is in the area adjoining the Siachen Glacier. It is true, that the area the Chinese claim, is under their ‘illegal occupation’ and this area is called the Shaksgam Valley, which was illegally ceded to China by Pakistan in 1963, to settle their boundary dispute with China.

China shares Boundary with 14 Countries and has settled their boundary disputes with 12 of them on the Chinese terms, the two countries with whom the Boundary dispute persists is India and Bhutan. After the 1962 debacle Pakistan thought best to settle the Border dispute with China by ceding the territory under their illegal occupation by gifting a portion of it called Shaksgam Valley an area of 5180 square kms of area adjoining Xinjiang province.




The Chinese claimed that the grazing rights of Hunza Valley part of Gilgit Agency wrested with the Chinese. Gilgit Agency now referred to as Gilgit - Baltistan is part of erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir which ceded to India on 26 October 1947. Gilgit Agency was given on 60 years Lease to Britain in 1935, fearing Russian expansion as Part of The Great Game, unfortunately the unrest in Kashmir Valley in 1931 was instigated by Sheikh Abdullah, who in 1932 formed the All J&K Muslim Conference against the Maharaja that made British fear that the Neighbouring Muslim Population might undermine the British Prestige by joining the Muslims of the Valley, besides Maharaja’s Independent Stand at the 1930 Round Table Conference hence the need for a Buffer to keep an eye on Russian activities and protect the Crown Jewel of India.

The lease would have lapsed in 1995, however since the British decided to Grant Independence to India On 15 August 1947, the Lease was terminated and Gilgit was reverted to Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir in July 1947. Brigadier Ghansara Singh was appointed Governor of Gilgit Agency by the Maharaja , the bloodless coup led by Major William Brown, a British Officer Commanding Gilgit Scouts ousted Brigadier Ghansara Singh and declared itself Independent on 1 November 1947.

Maharaja signed The Instrument of Accession on 26 October 1947 with India, the Indian Army landed on 27 October 1947 at Srinagar airfield to save the Kashmir Valley from falling into the hands of Raiders led by Pakistani Soldiers , this confusion and fighting in the valley led to Gilgit falling into the hands of Pakistan in 1947 and Baltistan in 1948. India stakes claim on the territory ceded by Maharaja of J&K through Instrument of Accession on 26 October 1947 and that includes Gilgit - Baltistan as part of POK. The Karachi Agreement signed in 1949 was demarcated till NJ 9842 and stated ‘thence Northwards to the Glaciers’ being wrongly interpreted by Pakistan led to Siachen Conflict which is adjoining Shaksgam Valley ceded to China by Pakistan in 1963.

China had wanted an access to Indian Ocean since 1949 and hence kept Pakistan on their toes demanding Shaksgam Valley, stating how The Mir of Hunza paid tribute to Kashgar for grazing and primarily wanting access through Khunjerab Pass via Gilgit- Baltistan to Gwadar , the construction of Karakoram Highway along the old Silk Route was undertaken jointly by China and Pakistan in 1959 and planning for which commenced in 1950’s, the Highway was constructed in twenty years and this “ Eighth Wonder of the World” was opened to Public in 1986. The Siachen Glacier was occupied by India to exert our ownership on 13 April 1984.

The 76 km long Siachen Glacier is the second longest glacier outside the Polar region and all activities being undertaken by the Chinese near Aghil Pass in Shaksgam Valley are approximately 40 to 50 Kms from Siachen. I had the pleasure to view the beautiful Shaksgam Valley from Indira Col , the northern most tip of Siachen Glacier. The CPEC alignment to Gwadar is along the erstwhile Karakoram Highway, a four lane 170 Kms long artery has been constructed from Gilgit to Skardu, which now hosts an international airport.

The entire Karakoram range which has four out of the fourteen peaks above 8000 meters has the world’s second highest peak called the K2 and the entire area is Mountaineers Paradise. From Skardu a road 100 kms long goes to Khapalu and further a distance of 120 kms , to the last village called Gyari which is at the foothills of Saltoro Range which has to be climbed to access Siachen Glacier by Pakistan. It takes Pakistan only one day to access Siachen Glacier whereas it takes us to deny access to them minimum two to seven days. The reader may now understand why it is necessary for us to occupy Siachen Glacier as Pakistan cannot be trusted and as soon as The Glacier is Vacated they will come and occupy the Saltoro Ridge line dominating the Glacier, due to better connectivity from their side and join hands with China.

From all of the above , the statement made by Shri Randhir Jaiswal, Official Spokesperson of MEA on January 9, 2026 can be appreciated when he said Shaksgam Valley is Indian Territory and that India has never recognised the so called China- Pakistan Boundary agreement of 1963. We have consistently maintained that the agreement is illegal and invalid, we do not recognise the so called CPEC either, which passes through Indian territory that is under forcible and illegal occupation of Pakistan. The entire union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh are an integral and inalienable part of India. This has been clearly conveyed to Pakistan and the Chinese authorities several times.

We have consistently protested with the Chinese side against attempts to alter the ground reality in Shaksgam Valley. We further reserve the right to take necessary measures to safeguard our interests. On January 12, 2026, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning reaffirmed its territorial claims over the Shaksgam Valley in the backdrop of India’s objections, stressing that the Chinese infrastructure projects in the area are “ beyond reproach”.

The erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir which ceded to India has a total area of 2,22, 236 Square Kms, India is in occupation of 106,566 square kms ie approximately 48%, Pakistan is under illegal occupation of 73000 square kms of Gilgit - Baltistan besides another 13297 Square Kms of so called Azad Kashmir which totals to approximately 35% and China has 42,735 square kms of it under illegal occupation which includes 5180 square kms of Shaksgam Valley which is 17% of erstwhile area of the State of J&K.

How many times have we seen people from J&K protesting against 52% of their erstwhile State under illegal occupation of China and Pakistan .