China's Road Construction Sparks Concerns in Kashmir Region Near Siachen Glacier

China's Road Construction near Siachen Glacier Raises Alarms

What implications does China's road construction near the Siachen Glacier in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir hold for regional security and stability?

China's ongoing construction of a road in the Shaksgam Valley of Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK), close to the Siachen Glacier, has raised significant concerns. The road, branching from an extension of Highway G219 in Xinjiang, disappears into the mountains approximately 50 kilometers north of the glacier. Lt Gen Rakesh Sharma, former Commander of the Indian Army's Fire and Fury Corps, has labeled the road as illegal, urging India to lodge a diplomatic protest against China. Speculations abound that the road may facilitate the transportation of minerals, including Uranium, from Gilgit Baltistan to Xinjiang. Additionally, experts warn of potential military maneuvers by Pakistan and China along these routes.