Conflict Zones: Mad Elephant Meddling with Himalayan Peace

By Preeta Rana

Indian road construction in Nepali territory sparked a diplomatic standoff between India and Nepal recently and now the situation is the same between China and India as India is also constructing several roads in disputed land at Line of Actual Control near North of Pangong Tso Lake.

According to the Indian Defence viewpoint, construction of the road has been halted by Chinese Border forces and satellite images have shown that China has deployed troops in Galway Valley and has deployed patrol boats on Pangong Tso Lake but India is not mentioning that its hands have been twisted by China for stopping it from occupying the territory of China as India had done with Nepal and Pakistan.

Pangong Tso or Pangong is an endorheic lake in the Ladakh region on Line of Actual Control between India and China. This is the disputed region. Lake is situated at a height of 14,270 feet above sea level. It is 134 km (83 mi) long. The lake is 5 km (3.1 mi) wide at its broadest point. All together it covers 604 km2. During winter the lake freezes completely, despite being saline water. It is not a part of the Indus river basin area and geographically a separate landlocked river basin.

Indian media while downplaying the situation says that the Chinese had an objection to a critical road construction project north of Pangong Tso. As the construction continued on the Indian side, it resulted in a face-off. However, India’s media is mum to say that the entire Himalayan region is disputed among four countries— China, India, Nepal, and Pakistan. Poor and resourceless Nepal wants to stop India from further occupation through bilateral talks, nuclear-powered Pakistan wishes to resolve the issue through several pending UN Security Council resolutions in favour of Islamabad but China has no fears to deal with the situation swiftly and with a mighty response.

India is constantly changing the demography, the physical and political status of entire disputed Himalayan region where India is eating up Nepali territory, unilaterally changed status of Jammu and Kashmir valley, and now Ladakh region.

Pakistan, China and Nepal are protesting that India is flouting all international laws and even UN resolutions for expanding its territory. However, the United Nations and other international Peace brokers are quite and watching the situation.

There are massive infrastructure building up by India close to the Line of Actual Control (LAC), inside Nepali territory and in Indian held Kashmir. These constructions could become potential flashpoints as India has been enhancing infrastructure in all disputed areas.

Narendra Damodardas Modi for domestic entertainment and requirement is playing havoc with regional peace and one can safely say that “Mad Elephant is Meddling with Himalayan Peace

Last year, Geopolitical Intelligence Services in an article titled “Potential conflict between Asian giants”, indicates that the mountainous border between India, China, and Pakistan is a dangerously underestimated trouble spot that could wreak havoc in the region.

The poor, vulnerable and fragile Himalayan population is facing conflicts for long but now the situation is aggravating un-proportionately with no respite at sight. Reckless Indian Prime Minister Narendra Damodardas Modi for domestic entertainment and requirement is playing havoc with regional peace and one can safely say that “Mad Elephant is Meddling with Himalayan Peace”.