evidence: During the 17th century, Bhutan established strong ties with Ladakh and provided support to Ladakh during its conflict with Tibet in 1684. As a gesture of goodwill and as a mark of their alliance, Ladakh granted Bhutan several enclaves near Mount Kailash in western Tibet. These enclaves comprised monasteries belonging to the Southern branch of the Drukpa sect, thus falling under the jurisdiction of the Bhutanese Je Khenpo and the Zhabdrung. Despite the broader western Tibetan region coming under the control of the Dalai Lama and the Gelugpa sect, these Bhutanese enclaves remained under Bhutanese authority. They served as significant religious and cultural outposts for Bhutan in the Tibetan region. However, in 1959, amidst geopolitical changes and the Chinese occupation of Tibet, the Bhutanese enclaves in western Tibet were seized by Chinese forces. This marked the end of Bhutanese control over these territories.