**India Reiterates Stance on Shaksgam Valley Agreement with Pakistan and China**
India’s Army Chief, General Upendra Dwivedi, reaffirmed the nation’s long-standing position regarding the 1963 agreement between Pakistan and China concerning the Shaksgam Valley, declaring it illegal and unacceptable. During his remarks, General Dwivedi emphasized that India has never recognized the agreement that allowed Pakistan to cede territory to China. “On Shaksgam Valley, India considers the 1963 agreement between Pakistan and China illegal. We do not accept it,” he stated, reinforcing New Delhi’s consistent stance on the issue.
These comments come in light of India’s renewed criticism of China’s infrastructure development activities in the Shaksgam Valley, which India asserts is its territory under illegal occupation. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) previously stated that Pakistan unlawfully ceded approximately 5,180 square kilometers of Indian territory in the Shaksgam Valley to China in 1963. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal reiterated that India has “never recognized the so-called China-Pakistan boundary agreement,” maintaining that it is illegal and invalid.
Furthermore, Jaiswal highlighted that India does not acknowledge the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which traverses Indian territory under Pakistan’s illegal occupation. He reiterated that the entire Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh are integral and inalienable parts of India, a position consistently communicated to both Pakistan and China.
India’s concerns have escalated amid reports of extensive Chinese infrastructure development in the Shaksgam Valley as part of the CPEC. Reports indicate that China is constructing an all-weather road in the region, with nearly 75 kilometers already completed. New Delhi has warned that such projects could alter the ground reality in an area it considers sovereign territory.
In response to these developments, the MEA asserted that the region is part of Indian territory and stated that India reserves the right to take “necessary measures” to protect its interests. However, China has dismissed India’s objections, claiming that its construction activities in the region are “beyond reproach.” This situation has drawn attention to what India perceives as China’s contradictory stance on Kashmir, publicly labeling it a bilateral issue between India and Pakistan while simultaneously engaging in strategic infrastructure projects in areas of Kashmir under Pakistan’s illegal occupation.
**Importance of Shaksgam Valley**
The Shaksgam Valley, also known as the Trans Karakoram Tract, is strategically located near the Siachen Glacier in the eastern Karakoram range, bordering China’s Xinjiang region to the north and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir to the south and west. Its proximity to the Siachen Glacier, recognized as the world’s highest battlefield, and access to the Karakoram Pass endow it with significant military importance.
**FAQ**
**Q: Why is the Shaksgam Valley significant to India?**
A: The Shaksgam Valley holds strategic military importance due to its proximity to the Siachen Glacier and access to the Karakoram Pass, making it a critical area for national security.
