evidence: New satellite images from the European Space Agency reveal a Chinese road has been built through the Aghil Pass and now stretches into the lower Shaksgam Valley. The Indian government has consistently claimed the Shaksgam Valley, which is currently controlled by China, as part of its territory. This includes the region of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK)…. writes Dr. Anjali Sehrawat [...] Some experts believe these roads might be used to transport minerals, possibly uranium, from nearby Gilgit Baltistan to China’s Xinjiang province. There is also the worry that these roads could be used by Pakistani and Chinese militaries. The road’s location is significant. It enters the disputed territory at Aghil Pass, which historically marked the border between Kashmir and Tibet. This fact was even acknowledged by past Chinese rulers. India frequently cites Aghil Pass and the Shaksgam Valley in border negotiations with China, pointing to historical evidence to support its claim. This evidence includes Indian government maps, dating back to 1907, that consistently showed the area as Indian Territory. Interestingly, archival Chinese maps from the early 20th century also seemed to agree, according to a website by a scholar specialising in Tibet. The Indian government has consistently claimed the Shaksgam Valley, which is currently controlled by China, as part of its territory. This includes the region of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). In a 2019 speech, Home Minister Amit Shah reaffirmed this position, stating that the Indian constitution defines Jammu and Kashmir to include both Pok and Aksai Chin (another disputed territory with China).