Geo-Political and Geo-Strategic Significance ...

Geo-Political and Geo-Strategic Significance of Ladakh: An Indian Perspective

Author Name : Dr. Sanjay Kumar

ABSTRACT

The present paper examines geo-political and geo-strategic significance of Ladakh in the light of the recent border clashes between the two Asian giants, India and China. Ladakh has been described as a constellation of villages within the “crossroads of Asia. Ladakh holds immense significance for India from the economic, security and strategic perspective point of view. India shares borders with two of its rivalling nations - China and Pakistan along the Ladakh side. India shares borders with China and Pakistan along district of Leh district, and Kargil and the Nubra Valley respectively. The prolonged disputed border with China in Ladakh has seen unstinted misdemeanour by the PLA forces in the last many years. Ladakh’s geopolitical significance has gained prominence since 1940s owing to Indo-Pak partition to the north, and, since the 1960s, China to the east. However, the year of 1950s marked the start of Chinese aggressive attitude in Ladakh.

Keywords: Geo-strategic, Ladakh, India, China, Pakistan, border dispute