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Political division of Kashmir

The Trans-Karakoram Tract is an area of nearly 5,800 sq. km. that was transferred by a border agreement from the Pakistani-administered Northern Areas to China in 1963 with the proviso that the settlement was subject to the final solution of the Kashmir dispute. The transfer is disputed by India which claims the Tract as part of Jammu and Kashmir state.

The tract, called Shaksgam, is technically part of Shigar, a valley of Baltistan region of Ladakh Province. The Raja of Shigar controlled this land until 1971, when Pakistan abolished the Raja government system. A polo ground in Shaksgam was built by the Amacha Royal family of Shigar, and the Rajas of Shigar used to invite the Amirs of Yarkand to play polo there. All the names of the mountains, lakes, rivers and passes are in Balti/Ladakhi, suggesting that this land has been part of Baltistan/Ladakh province for a long time.

A similar but larger (35,000 sq. km.) area of Kashmir held by China is the Aksai Chin region northeast of Ladakh. Political analysts believe that the transfer was made in order to secure a peaceful resolution with the Chinese who had waged a war with India the previous year, since Pakistan Military felt it might not be able to fight the Chinese and such a move would enable close ties with China.

The Tract is one of the most inhospitable areas of the world, with some of the highest mountains including Broad Peak, Gasherbrum and Masherbrum, and is adjacent to the highest battlefield in the world at Siachen Glacier.

Broad Peak lies on the border of the Tract

• Indo-Pakistani wars
• Line of Control Kashmir
• Indo-China War Kashmir
• Kashmir conflict
• Indian Kashmir barrier
• Ladakh
• Kashmir region
• Kashmiriyat - a socio-cultural ethos of religious harmony and Kashmiri consciousness.
• List of topics on the land and the people of “Jammu and Kashmir”
• Baltistan
• Northern Areas
• Pamir Mountains
• Wakhan
• Gilgit Agency
• Baltistan

• Northern Areas Official Website
• Government of Pakistan