The Shaksgam Valley, located in the trans-Karakoram region of Jammu and Kashmir, has once again come into focus amid renewed discussions on India–China relations and regional security. The territory, also known as the Trans-Karakoram Tract, remains a sensitive geopolitical issue involving India, China, and Pakistan.
India–China Dispute Over Shaksgam Valley
Shaksgam Valley is part of the larger Kashmir region that India considers an integral part of its territory. However, the area came under Chinese control following the 1963 China–Pakistan Boundary Agreement, under which Pakistan illegally ceded the Shaksgam Valley to China. India has consistently rejected this agreement, asserting that Pakistan had no legal authority to transfer Indian territory to a third country.
Strategic Concerns Resurface in Kashmir
Strategically, the Shaksgam Valley holds immense importance due to its proximity to the Line of Actual Control (LAC), the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), and key mountain passes linking Xinjiang with Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). Experts note that Chinese infrastructure development in nearby regions enhances Beijing’s strategic depth and logistical capabilities in the Himalayan belt.
The issue has gained attention again more than a year after India and China reached a disengagement understanding to ease prolonged military tensions in eastern Ladakh. While the agreement helped reduce frontline friction, unresolved boundary disputes—including areas like Shaksgam Valley—continue to cast a shadow over long-term stability.
Indian officials have repeatedly emphasized that any discussion or agreement involving Kashmir without India’s participation is null and void. New Delhi maintains that Chinese presence in Shaksgam Valley violates India’s sovereignty and undermines regional peace.
From a broader perspective, the Shaksgam Valley dispute reflects the complex triangular dynamics between India, China, and Pakistan, where territorial claims, strategic corridors, and military considerations intersect. Analysts believe that developments in this region will remain closely linked to future India–China border negotiations and South Asian security architecture.
As geopolitical competition intensifies in the Himalayas, Shaksgam Valley continues to stand as a symbol of unresolved disputes, reinforcing India’s long-standing position on territorial integrity and sovereignty.
