Shaksgam ours, will defend it: MEA slams inclusion in China-Pak corridor

India has never recognised the so-called China-Pakistan ‘Boundary Agreement’ signed in 1963, said MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal while answering questions at a weekly media briefing.

“We have consistently maintained that the agreement (of 1963) is illegal and invalid. We also do not recognise the so-called China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, which passes through Indian territory that is under forcible and illegal occupation of Pakistan,” Jaiswal said.

The entire union territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh were an integral and inalienable part of India, which had been clearly conveyed to Pakistani and Chinese authorities several times, he said.

“India has 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,” said Jaiswal.

China and Pakistan announced the CPEC 2.0 on January 4 and it included expansion of their existing economic and strategic cooperation. The CPEC route into Shaksgam is expected to deepen China and Pakistan’s grip around India’s northern frontiers and sharpen the military and diplomatic contest over Siachen, Ladakh and PoK. India is treating the CPEC-leg through Shaksgam as a fresh violation of its sovereignty.

The new Yarkand–Aghil–Shaksgam road had been noted by the Indian Army as it fell within roughly 30–50 km of the northern approach to Siachen and the Saltoro Ridge, said officials.

Indian satellite imagery experts have done open source analysis that shows a new Chinese road branching from G219 highway into lower Shaksgam. The road ends roughly 50 km north of Indira Col, the northern most point of the Siachen glacier, occupied by India since April 1984.