What are China’s intentions in building Shaksgam Valley road? Not security, look to politics

News Snapshot:

The Ministry of External Affairs’ (MEA) official reaction was to lodge a protest based on its position that it never accepted Pakistan’s ceding of Shaksgam Valley to China through the 1963 border agreement. Similar protests were lodged in whenever China’s road-building and other activities had come to light. China’s road-building capability and intentions in the Himalayas were highlighted recently through a post on X by researcher Nature Desai. Utilising satellite imagery, he argued that China has built a road across the Aghil Pass, located at a height of 4,805 m, and entered the lower Shaksgam Valley. The roadhead is now...