What is the significance of extending Ladakh's territorial control to Gilgit-Baltistan in PoK

Various socio-political bodies in Ladakh have called for extending territorial control to Gilgit-Baltistan in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). Why is this move significant?
Extending Ladakh's territorial control to Gilgit-Baltistan in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) has significant implications:
  • Strategic importance: Gilgit-Baltistan is strategically located and provides India with a link to Central Asia. Gaining control over this region would enhance India's strategic position in the subcontinent.
  • Defending India's borders: Extending territorial control would provide a buffer zone against potential threats and secure the Indian border in the sensitive region of PoK.
  • Protecting local interests: The move is seen as an effort to safeguard the interests of the people of Ladakh, who share cultural, geographical, and historical ties with Gilgit-Baltistan.
  • Humanitarian reasons: Ladakh's push for territorial control could help address the concerns of Gilgit-Baltistan's people, who reportedly face human rights violations in the region.
  • Legal claim: India claims the entire region of Jammu and Kashmir, including PoK, based on historical and legal grounds. Extending control would reinforce India's claim over the territory.
While the call for extending territorial control has socio-political significance, achieving this objective would require careful diplomatic and geopolitical maneuvering.
Answered a year ago
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