International Relations / Indian Geography
Shaksgam Valley is a high-altitude, sparsely populated region north of the Karakoram Range in the former princely state of Jammu and Kashmir. India claims it as part of Ladakh, but it has been under Chinese control since Pakistan transferred it to China through the 1963 Sino-Pakistan Boundary Agreement, which India considers illegal.
China administers the area as part of Xinjiang and is developing roads and infrastructure there, increasing its strategic footprint near Ladakh. The region is geopolitically sensitive due to its proximity to Siachen, the Karakoram Highway, and the China–Pakistan axis.
APSC relevance
Relevant for India–China–Pakistan boundary disputes, Ladakh’s strategic geography, and Himalayan security issues.
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