The Karakoram Highway in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir connects Abbottabad in Punjab to China’s Xinjiang Province. It has obvious implications for India's security. New Delhi must respond by re-asserting its control on the Gilgit-Baltistan region

Karakoram Highway connects Abbottabad in Punjab (Pakistan) to Kashgar in the Xinjiang region of China across the Karakoram ranges. India has five mountain ranges which guard its northern frontier namely, the Karakoram range, the Zanskar range, the ladakh range, the Himalayan range and the Pir Panjal range. The northern most range of the mountains are the Karakoram mountains which also form the de facto border along which runs the line of Actual Control.

The Karakoram Highway is the highest paved strategic international road, which crosses the Karakoram ranges at Khunjerab Pass (15,397) and is presently a fair weather road. Karakoram Highway meanders through the Gilgit-Baltistan region (part of Jammu & Kashmir and presently in illegal occupation of Pakistan).

Currently, work is in progress, to make it an all-weather road through construction of tunnels, widening of the road to thrice its present specification, construction of bridges and enhancing the load carrying capacity by three times. The highway, initially was constructed jointly by Pakistan and China, but its upgradation is being undertaken by a Chinese company called China Bridge and Road Construction Company.

Consequently, there is large-scale presence of Chinese labourers and military troops in the area. The Karakoram Highway will be linked to the newly constructed port with Chinese aid at Gwadar. This will reduce the distance of nearest sea port to the land locked Sinkiang Province by 200 km. 

It is also proposed to develop the Karakoram Highway into an economic corridor, referred to as the Karakoram Corridor. This will involve upgradation of the Karakoram Highway into an all-weather express way, laying of optic fibre cable along its entire length, 1,100 km trans-Karakoram rail link, laying of oil and gas pipelines.

Karakoram Highway and Karakoram Corridor serve both political and strategic interests of China and Pakistan. India cannot afford to remain quiet to increased Chinese presence in the disputed Pakistan-occupied Jammu & Kashmir. It has obvious implications for India’s security. While China claims it to be a part of its economic strategy, to revive old trade routes, Indian security experts denounce it as a part of China’s ‘string of pearls’ strategy to encircle India as well as ensuring its presence in the strategically important Gilgit- Baltistan region.

It is like the case of a half-filled glass. It is dependent on how the viewer perceives it — half-empty or half-full. There is no doubt that the Karakoram Corridor will provide China access to the Indian Ocean, thus giving boost to its trade. But the fact that it can also be used for military purposes to threaten India and destabilise Indian Ocean cannot be ignored.

Readers will recall that in the past, the Karakoram Highway was used by China to supply strategic material for production of its nuclear arsenal as well as for supply of long range missiles. It was also used to equip the Taliban in Afghanistan during their fight against the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

Pakistan used the Karakoram Highway to ship American weapon systems to China for reverse engineering. Thus, Karakoram Highway poses a great security challenge to India. It can be used for rapid movement of troops and material from China and Pakistan. It can be used for stationing missiles in POJK. The tunnels will provide enhanced security to these missiles and their deployment can be kept concealed from Indian and international surveillance systems.

In case of an India-Pakistan war, China can make a ‘pincer movement’ to threaten India and tie down its troops in the ladakh sector. China can also keep an eye on the Indian activities in the region by establishing listening posts and advanced surveillance bases in POJK.

The People’s liberation Army Air Force will have the additional benefit of using the air fields in POJK, in case of hostilities with India. Karakoram Highway can also become a life-line for promoting terrorist activities in troubled Kashmir region. The increased Chinese presence in POJK will act as a hindrance in resolution of the Jammu & Kashmir problem.

Thus, Karakoram Highway/Karakoram Corridor is the focal point of Pakistan-China nexus against India and for domination of the region. Pakistan has already illegally ceded to China, parts of the territory of Gilgit-Baltistan, an integral part of the State of Jammu & Kashmir, in Saksam Valley and Aksai Chin.

Pakistan calls China as its strategic partner and they both have a common enemy, ie India. A new ‘great game’ is being played by China in the region to ensure its hold over the strategic region of Gilgit-Baltistan with active connivance of Pakistan.

Indian security establishment cannot turn a blind eye to the happenings in the Gilgit-Baltistan region. The Saltoro ridge and the Siachen glacier assume strategic importance in this context. India under no circumstances should vacate Siachen glacier. Our defences in the ladakh sector should be strengthened through rapid development of infrastructure.

Re-activation of Daulat Beg Oldi airfield by the Indian Air Force has sent a strong message across. The much-needed upgradation and modernisation of the surveillance systems should be taken on war footing. long range surveillance radars and satellites be deployed to keep the main arteries in China and POJK under surveillance. Our Special Forces should be tasked, equipped and trained for interdiction of Karakoram Highway.

Diplomatically, India should oppose Pakistan’s action of separating Gilgit-Baltistan region from POJK and making it a separate region directly under the Federal Government. Any talk on ‘K’ issue must include the Giilgit-Baltistan region with India insisting on its complete vacation by Pakistan.

Incidentally, the region being dominated by the Shias is also a victim of Sunni hegemony in Pakistan. Our relations with other South Asia countries should be strengthened to negate Chinese influence in the region and to isolate Pakistan. The Modi Government has already flagged it as a major foreign policy initiative which has begun to yield success.

Similarly, in keeping with Kautilya’s advice that enemy’s neighbour should be your friend, India’s relations with countries that border China and Pakistan like Myanmar, Vietnam, Japan, Mongolia, Taiwan and Afghanistan should be friendly and mutually beneficial. Another foreign policy initiative of the Modi Government to renew and improve relations with Indian Ocean Rim countries should be pursued with vigour.

Despite recent bonhomie in Sino-Indian relations and the proposed joint military exercise between the two countries, India cannot afford to let its guard down. As long as we have unsettled border with China as well as taking note of China’s military posture in Tibet, India will have to be ready to thwart any Chinese misadventure.

Pakistan on the other hand, continues to be the breeding ground of terror and an important player of the global jihad against India. It has unleashed a proxy war. Its strategic alliance with China is solely aimed at threatening and de-stabilising India. Thus, the Karakoram Highway and its proposed expansion that provides connectivity to both our hostile neighbours poses a major security challenge.

(The writer is a retired Army officer and security and strategic affairs analyst)