What is POJK, Gilgit Baltistan , Aksai Chin - Let us know our occupied territories

 Strategic Importance of Pakistan Occupied Jammu Kashmir , Gilgit Baltistan and Aksai Chin 

Article 370 has been Amended as to implement the Union constitution in the state of Jammu and Kashmir and the state has been reorganised into 2 UT’s – Jammu &Kashmir and UT of Ladakh . In the parliament Home Minister has been on record to say that POJK and Aksai chin are included when J&K is mentioned. Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh has stated on many occasions that any Talks with Pakistan will be only on Pakistan Occupied Jammu Kashmir. In the recent UNGA session, China supported Pakistan on its stand on 370 abrogation and reorganisation of the State. It is imperative to understand the Occupied region and realise its importance.

Maharaja Hari Singh acceded to India on 26 October ,1947, by signing the instrument of accession. The princely state comprising of Gilgit Wazarat, Gilgit Agency, Ladakh , Kashmir and Jammu became a part of Dominion of India . On 22 October onwards , Pakistani Army under the guise of North frontier tribals called Kabilais invaded the state of Jammu & Kashmir from 3 axis..Jammu, poonch and  Kashmir. Meanwhile in Gilgit region the troops of Gilgit Scouts mutinied and Gilgit ‘acceded ‘ to Pakistan, after a massacre of Sikh Soldiers at Bunji. Jawahar Lal Nehru took the matter to UN and a ceasefire was announced on 1 January 1949 which allowed Pakistan to be in occupation of territories of Gilgit-Baltistan and Mirpur -Muzzafarabad, which it terms as ‘Azad Jammu kashmir’. China started to occupy the region of Aksai Chin in Eastern Ladakh from 1954 onwards by building a Road called Highway 219 connecting Kashgar in Xinxiang to Lhasa in Tibet . In 1954 , india issued a memo , stating that Johnson Ardagh line as its official boundary ,while China claimed Macdonald -Mac cartney line. Post 1962 Indo China war, it occupied the territory of Aksai Chin . In 1963, under a Pakistani -China  Border Agreement , Pakistan ceded Shaksgam valley in its Occupied territory of Gilgit -Baltistan to China. In addition, China occupies Minsar, an indian principality in western Tibet, which was a part of J&K, and whose revenues maintained Kailash -Mansarovar after it occupied Tibet .

Thus the Dejure Map of Jammu & Kashmir , has been converted to a map where a de-facto LOC exists on the Pakistani border and an LAC on the Chinese border .

Post occupation of Aksai Chin by China, Nehru had famously claimed that as not a blade of grass grows in Aksai Chin, it was irrelevant if China occupied it, completely ignoring the strategic. Importance of Aksai chin. Also , Grass did grow in Aksai chin as nomads came to graze their yaks in summers .Aksai chin was Criss-crossed by ancient trade routes which gave access to Tibet, China, Xinxiang and Central Asia and connected to various trade routes extending to Eurasia and Middle east. The important trade routes were Kashgar-Leh-Srinagar and Lhasa- Leh . These trade routes were stopped once Highway 219 became operational, causing economic deprivation in Ladakh . China connected its two occupied territories,ensuring movement of goods and Millitary. China’s ability to mobilise its troops and tanks gave it advantage in the 1962 war. Many analysts claim that in case of war, Chinese tanks can reach New Delhi very quickly. For many decades pre 2014, this analysis was given as excuse by Indian government of not enhancing Border infrastructure on Indian -Tibet Border .

Occupation of Aksai chin denies India access to Central Asia ,while China can monitor Central Asia. Aksai chin is like a Chinese satellite, which pressurises india on Chinese occupation of Shaksgam and its involvement in economic activities in Gilgit Baltistan. The CPEC project is vital to China as it creates a link via Gilgit Baltistan to Gwadar, cutting the distance of Xinxiang to a port to 2500 km ,from the 4500 km to Shanghai . Also, India is forced to maintain its forces in the areas, and frequent incursions occur by Chinese troops. Boundary talks are On since 1988 to find a solution to Aksai Chin.

Pakistani occupation of Gilgit Baltistan enabled it to extend its borders to China, and to Ladakh and Siachen . Gilgit Baltistan is the Gateway to Central Asia and Afghanistan from the indian subcontinent. Gilgit lies at cross roads of trade routes which are called the ancient Silk route. It shares its border with Xinxiang ( occupied by China since 1949) Afghanistan  And Pakistan, with access to Central Asia via Wakhan corridor to Tajikistan(25 km) . Ancient trade routes ,mainly Gandhar(Kandahar) -Varahmul( Baramulla ), Kashgar -Srinagar etc passed through Gilgit. Presently The Karakoram Highway enters Gilgit Baltistan through Khunjareb pass and connects Gilgit to Kashgar. The road is the central point of the CPEC (China-Pakistan economic corridor) . The road further extends to Islamabad and then to Gwadar deep sea port. Thus via Gilgit Baltistan, China gets its landlocked western and central areas access to warm waters of Arabian Sea. The central Asian republics, rich in natural gas, also get access to Sea port via this route.

China imports Crude oil from Middle East and Minerals from Africa ,exporting Finished products to both. Presently the sea route is via Indian Ocean,Malacca straits and South China Sea, where US, India are strong forces and US can impose Barricades via malacca strait. Also,the distance to shanghai from middle eastern ports is about 12000 km, along with added land route. A port in Gwadar ,linked by CPEC will make transport of the above goods very fast and insulate it from US .

Millitary presence of China in Gwadar port will give it power in Arabian Sea to offset Indian Dominance in the area.

Chinese investments in Gilgit Baltistan have given Pakistan disproportionate  power in the subcontinent which it did not have. Chinese Pakistan axis has potential to encircle India and keep it entangled with Pakistan. This is the reason China opposes Reorganisation of Ladakh and J&K as UTs . Historically, pre 1905, Gilgit, Baltistan and Ladakh including Aksai Chin were part of one district known as northern Frontiers .

 Indus River flows in Gilgit Baltistan From Ladakh.  China proposes to built a North Indus cascade , a group of 5 Dams starting from Skardu in Baltistan. The energy from these dams is proposed to be used by China, and irrigation by Pakistan. This is another challenge to Indian policy makers . 

Three largest Glaciers outside polar regions are in Gilgit Baltistan along with Mineral reserves including Gold, Uranium and Molybednum. Hunza has Best quality gold reserves . The Mir of Hunza would pay tribute to the Maharaja of J&K in sacks full of gold dust, collected from flowing streams . Pakistan has given mining rights of rare minerals to China, resources which belong to India.

Siachen Glacier is the area where three nuclear Nations -China,India and Pakistan link up. India dominates the area via Saltoro ridge. Ceding of Shaksgam valley and occupying GB enabled Pakistan to exert pressure in this area.

It must be noted that all wars with Pakistan post independence have been in this region, starting with first Indo pak war( Oct 1947-31 dec 1948), 1965 Indo pak war along LOC,  In 1971 on Ladakh Border, in 1984 the Siachen war (Ladakh Border) and in 1999 the Kargil war( Ladakh Border).Reclaiming this Territory will enhance security of India.

Mirpur -muzzafarabad ,which Pakistan terms as Azaad Jammu Kashmir, serves as an ideological mouthpiece for proponents of Independent Kashmir . It offers a stage for amplifying Separatist voices while giving space to terrorist outfits to set up camps . Infiltrations occur mostly from this area . Terror outfits active in Mirpur – muzzafarabad receive funds from abroad through various charities set up. The so called Kashmiri voices in UK are Mirpuris who migrated to UK post Construction of Mangala Dam. 

Minsar in west Tibet was an Indian principality which maintained Kailash Mansarovar area. The traditional route to Kailash Mansarovar was from Ladakh ,via Demchok to Minsar . Reopening of this route,which is quicker and safer will be of a great economic benefit to Ladakh .

To conclude, when we claim that Jammu&Kashmir is a strategic state, it is the occupied areas by Pakistan and China which are the real strategic areas. These areas gave India access to Central Asia,Afghanistan and made India prosperous via trade through silk route. Security of India was strengthened by control over these areas. Gilgit Baltistan along with Kashmir and Ladakh had been the centre of trade for centuries . To make India Strong and prosperous it is imperative to regain control of these territories .