India Reasserts Sovereignty Over Shaksgam Valley, Rejects CPEC Through Disputed Territory

India has once again firmly reiterated that the Shaksgam Valley, located north of the Siachen Glacier, is an inseparable part of its sovereign territory. New Delhi has categorically rejected any claims or activities by China and Pakistan in the region, maintaining that the valley falls within the Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stressed that India has never recognised the so-called China-Pakistan Boundary Agreement of 1963, calling it illegal and without legal standing.

This reaffirmation comes amid growing concerns over Chinese infrastructure activity in the region, which India views as a direct challenge to its territorial integrity and a violation of long-standing diplomatic positions.

MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal addresses a press conference on Friday. ANI | Firstpost

The 1963 Agreement and India’s Legal Objections

The Shaksgam Valley forms part of the Trans-Karakoram Tract, an area that Pakistan ceded to China under a bilateral agreement signed in 1963. India has consistently rejected this agreement, arguing that Pakistan had no legal authority to transfer territory that it did not rightfully own. According to India, the agreement is null and void, and any territorial claims derived from it hold no legitimacy.

Indian officials have repeatedly conveyed this stance to both Beijing and Islamabad, asserting that sovereignty over the region remains non-negotiable and rooted in historical, legal, and constitutional grounds.

CPEC and India’s Sovereignty Concerns

India has also reiterated its opposition to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a flagship project under China’s Belt and Road Initiative. New Delhi maintains that it does not recognise CPEC because parts of the corridor pass through territories that India considers to be under illegal occupation by Pakistan.

The MEA has made it clear that infrastructure projects carried out in disputed regions, including roads and connectivity corridors linked to CPEC, are unacceptable to India. Such projects, according to Indian officials, attempt to legitimise unlawful territorial arrangements and alter the status quo on the ground.

Strategic Importance of the Region

The Shaksgam Valley lies close to the strategically sensitive Siachen Glacier, one of the world’s highest and most militarised zones. Analysts note that increased infrastructure activity in this region could enhance China’s logistical and military capabilities near India’s northern borders. This has raised serious strategic concerns in New Delhi, particularly in the context of ongoing India-China border tensions in eastern Ladakh.

The region’s geography also places it at the intersection of India-China-Pakistan strategic interests, making it a critical factor in broader regional security dynamics.

China’s Response and Regional Implications

China has rejected India’s objections, asserting that the Shaksgam Valley is part of its territory and that its infrastructure projects are legitimate. Beijing maintains that its cooperation with Pakistan, including CPEC-related activities, does not affect its stated position on the Kashmir dispute.

However, experts argue that China’s deepening strategic partnership with Pakistan and its expanding footprint in the region have long-term implications for South Asian geopolitics. The Shaksgam dispute underscores the growing convergence of Chinese and Pakistani strategic interests, often at odds with India’s security concerns.

The MGMM Outlook

India’s reiteration that the Shaksgam Valley is an inseparable part of its sovereign territory reinforces a long-standing constitutional and legal position that has never wavered. The rejection of the 1963 China-Pakistan agreement is rooted in the clear principle that no third party can transfer or legitimise control over land it does not lawfully own. By restating that Shaksgam lies within the Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, New Delhi has underlined that historical claims, diplomatic consistency, and constitutional authority form the basis of its sovereignty, irrespective of external assertions or bilateral arrangements between China and Pakistan.

Opposition to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor flowing through disputed territory reflects deeper concerns about attempts to alter ground realities under the cover of infrastructure development. The strategic proximity of Shaksgam to the Siachen Glacier and the wider Ladakh region makes any expansion of Chinese activity there a direct security concern, especially amid unresolved border tensions. The growing alignment between Beijing and Islamabad in this sensitive geography highlights how economic projects are increasingly intertwined with strategic ambitions, reinforcing the need to view sovereignty, security, and regional stability as inseparable issues in India’s northern frontier.

(Sources: Firstpost, Economic Times, Times of India)