The Point 5353 is at an aeral distance of 12 km from Dras, through which passes the strategic National Highway 1 of India linking Srinagar to Leh. In 1999, Pakistani forces occupied all the peaks in the vicinity and directed artillery fire at the highway, which led to Indian retaliation and the Kargil War. The Indian Army fought to regain control of Tiger Hill and Tololing peaks, which posed a more direct threat to the highway. Point 5240 and 5353 were not cleared during the war. Their status was settled during the negotiations after the end of hostilities.