Arun Joshi
At the time when India is in the middle of its General elections, outcome of which will redefine or reinforce the existing security system, China has challenged Indian claim on Shaksgam Valley that lies adjacent to Siachen glacier reckoned as highest battleground in the world . It had been a seen of gun fire end artillery exchange between Indian and Pakistani troops for almost 20 years since April 1984.
The Indian response has been inadequate to the Chinese construction in Shaksgam Valley increasing the security threat to the Siachen glacier which is one of the biggest strategic assets of India on China-Pakistan border which they carved out in 1963. Now that border, also known as Karakoram tract serves as a lifeline for China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) . The Corridor passes through this tract.
China has asserted its right on the Valley and justified extraordinary infrastructure construction, which given the previous behavior of China and Pakistan is an alarming situation for India . Siachen is not just a strategic location, but this also defines that how it faces twin by Chinese and Pakistani troops. Since 2009, China has deployed its troops in Gilgit-Baltistan belt to safeguard its assets as also for the protection of its workers engaged on various projects. This fact was first brought out by New York Times in 2009.
In the recent weeks, some of the media reports based on the satellite images stated that China has breached Indian border through road leading to Aghil Pass and entered the lower Shaksgam Valley. This act of Pakistan effected changes on the Karakoram highway that links Chinese province of Xinjiang to Pakistan occupied Jammu and Kashmir. The Aghil Pass is about 48 kms from the glacier.
China has already created a high-tension situation in eastern Ladakh , where its troops have been deployed close to 646 Kms of Lien of Actual Control ( LAC) for the past over four years . India is seeking solution to the military crisis , threatening its geographical sovereignty through military commander level talks since June 2020, but the results have not come to the Indian expectations . It is a no-war situation in a war-like environment.
These constructions and breaching of the road could lead to multiple problems. It may require India to deploy more forces at Siachen glacier. This will make India to go back to the situation which developed 1980s afterwards. This threatens the glacier becoming battleground yet again after a long gap of 21 years since the Ceasefire affected on November 26, 2003. The glacier is among the strategic places where Pakistan has not violated ceasefire since, it has stayed calm since. But with Chinese actions few kilometers from the glacier, things may become fragile again.
The Indian response to the Chinese audacity has been as usual circumscribed by the traditional cliches, which strategically fall for short of any actual steps to prevent China from doing what it has been doing and continues to do on borders . The responses, at times with strong words, do not constitute strong action on the ground. This poses twin dangers – China and Pakistan used o their unacceptable actions on borders, have not halted their activities for they know that the Indian rhetoric is more of defensive nature rather than an active move. India is caught in strategic straightjacket at this point; any military action would make China and Pakistan to respond jointly. And the diplomatic means have not yielded much. It is evident from what has happened on eastern Ladakh border where China has continued with its aggressive posturing and not yielded to the demands made by India.
Internally, the people who are concerned and can assess the consequences of the Chinese actions; have seen that India’s response toward China is extremely cautious. That gives an impression to the people in the nation, and in particular, the strategic community that there is some weakness. It is one thing to talk about Pakistan and the way India can act, but quite different when it comes to China.
Indian Ministry of external Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in his response: “The Shaksgam Valley is a part of the territory of India. We have never accepted the so-called China Pakistan Boundary Agreement of 1963 through which Pakistan unlawfully attempted to cede the area to China, and have consistently conveyed our rejection of the same. We have registered our protest with the Chinese side against illegal attempts...” This being that, have such protests made China to change its behaviour on the border? The answer is no. .
India needs to work out a long-term strategic plan to deal with the situation. It should have preemptive measures in mind and on the ground. Unless that is done, China will continue to pose challenge to the Indian Territory.
Arun Joshi is author of “Eyewitness Kashmir; Teetering on Nuclear War and senior journalist based in Jammu and Kashmir, writes on South Asian affairs)
Disclaimer: This is the personal opinion of the author. The views expressed in this write-up have nothing to do with www.prameyanews.com.
