Karakoram Highway (KKH) connects Abbottabad in Punjab (Pakistan) to Kashgar, Xinjiang Region of China across the Karakoram Ranges. India has five mountain ranges which guard its northern frontier namely, Karakoram Ranges, Zangskar Ranges, The Ladakh Ranges, Himalayan Ranges and the Pir Panchal Ranges. The Karakoram Ranges are the northern most and also form the de facto border along which runs the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China. Karakoram Highway is the highest paved strategic international road which crosses the Karakoram Ranges at Khunjerab Pass (15397’) and is presently a fair weather road. KKH meanders through the Gilgit –Baltistan region (part of Jammu & Kashmir state and presently in illegal occupation of Pakistan). This poses a grave security concern to India and needs to be handled.

1. Karakoram Highway: Security Implications for India
By
Brig Anil Gupta
Karakoram Highway (KKH) connects Abbottabad in Punjab (Pakistan) to Kashgar, Xinjiang
Region of China across the Karakoram Ranges. India has five mountain ranges which guard its
northern frontier namely, Karakoram Ranges, Zangskar Ranges, The Ladakh Ranges, Himalayan
Ranges and the Pir Panchal Ranges. The Karakoram Ranges are the northern most and also form
the de facto border along which runs the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China. Karakoram
Highway is the highest paved strategic international road which crosses the Karakoram Ranges
at Khunjerab Pass (15397’) and is presently a fair weather road. KKH meanders through the
Gilgit –Baltistan region (part of Jammu & Kashmir state and presently in illegal occupation of
Pakistan). The 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 up gradation is being undertaken by a Chinese company
called China Bridge and Road Construction Company (CBRC). Consequently there is large scale
presence of the Chinese labour and military troops in the area. The KKH will be linked to the
newly constructed port with Chinese aid at Gwadar. This would reduce the distance of nearest
sea port to the land locked Sinkiang province by 200 km.
It is also proposed to develop KKH into an economic corridor referred to as Karakoram Corridor
(KC). It would involve up gradation of KKH into an all- weather express way, laying of optic fibre
cable (OFC) along its entire length, 1100 km trans-karakoram rail link, laying of oil and gas
pipelines. KKH and KC serve both political and strategic interests of China and Pakistan. India
cannot afford to remain quiet to increased Chinese presence in the disputed POJK. It has
obvious implications for India’s security. While China claims it to be part of its economic
strategy to revive old trade routes, the Indian security experts denounce it as a part of China’s
“string of pearls” strategy to encircle India as well as ensuring her 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-filled”? There is no doubt that the KC would
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 can also not
be ignored.

2. Readers would recall that in the past KKH has been 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 USSR. Pakistan used it to ship
American weapon systems to China for reverse engineering. Thus, KKH 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 would provide enhanced
security to these missiles and their deployment can be kept concealed from Indian and
international surveillance systems. In case of an Indo-Pak war China can make a ‘pincer
movement’ to threaten India and tie down its troops in 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 PLA Air Force would have the additional benefit of using the air
fields in POJK in case of hostilities with us. KKH 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 and Kashmir problem.
Thus Karakoram Highway (KKH)/ Karakoram Corridor (KC) is the focal point of Pak-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 J&K, in SaksamValley
and Aksai Chin. Pakistan calls China as its strategic partner and they both have a common
enemy, i.e., 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. Saltoro
Ridge and Siachen Glacier assume great strategic importance in this context. India under no
circumstances should vacate Siachen Glacier. Our defences in Ladakh sector should be
strengthened through rapid development of infrastructure. Re-activation of DBO airfield by the
Indian Air Force has sent a strong message across. The much needed up gradation 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 KKH.
Diplomatically, India should oppose Pak’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 Pak.

3. Incidentally, the region being Shia dominated is also a victimof Sunni hegemony in Pakistan.
Our relations with other neighbours in the SAARC region 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, Magnolia, 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 her guard down. As long as we have
unsettled border with China as well as taking note of China’s military posture in Tibet, India
would 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, Karakoram Highway and its proposed expansion that
provides connectivity to both our hostile neighbours poses a major security challenge.
(The author is a Jammu based security and strategic analyst. The views expressed in the article
are based on research and are entirely personal. He can be contacted at anil5457@gmail.com )
-Comment-
Dear Anil,
Once again a well researched and well written article, bringing clearer focus to a
highly strategic area. A sketch map could have added value. I wonder how safe such
infrastructure would be in times of war, being static targets to surface-to-surface and air-to-
surface tactical missiles. Rebuilding would be a nightmare, given the mountainous terrain.
Fuelling Uighur, Tibetan and Baluch insurgencies to act as fifth-columnists and partisans will
help, as also instigating Shia-Sunni sectarian strife in Gilgit - Baltistan. At the end of the day
there is no alternative to building up our own infrastructure to effectively counter the 'dragon'.
I get a dirty feeling we are relapsing into the early sixties stupor all over again and burying our
heads in sand, ostrich like. NDA-I had blundered by granting parliamentary ratification to
recognition of Tibet as an integral part of China. I don't know if there are any
constitutional/diplomatic remedies to undo that damage. NDA-II has made a 'great' beginning

4. by cancelling plans to raise a mountain strike corps on the eastern front. Next time they raise
the Arunachal issue, we could quietly raise a placard stating 'TIBET IS NOT CHINA', and watch
the commotion. Suckering to a bully never helped. We need to build capacity NOW to stand up
to a cheating giant. I hope the MOD mandarins are listening. The Chinese are the world's most
unscrupulous major power, with scant regard to international obligations and pursuing a very
narrow and aggressive nationalist agenda, be it intellectual property or climate change or water
sharing with lower riparian states or the international law of the sea. It is time for resolute
action and not timidity. Last year the Gujrat lion roared, but this year it sounds closer to a
meow, and I hope next year it does not sound like a rat squeaking. Creating a buzz can go only
thus far; it needs to be vindicated by results on the ground. Good luck. Keep writing. Warm
regards.
Wc Cdr BJP Rao (Retd)