evidence: Currently, its endpoint is a mere 30 miles from the Indian position over the Siachen Glacier. The Shaksgam Valley, part of the larger Trans-Karakoram tract, has been a contentious issue since its transfer by Pakistan to the People’s Republic of China (PRC) under the 1963 Sino-Pakistan Agreement. This transfer, regarded by India as illegal, has fueled longstanding territorial disputes in the northern areas of PoK and Ladakh. Today, the Trans-Karakoram tract has become a focal point of geopolitical significance, mainly due to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). [...] Thirdly, China’s activities in the Shaksgam Valley may also be aimed at neutralizing India’s strategic advantage in the Karakoram and Trans-Karakoram tract, particularly due to the uninterrupted Indian presence over the Siachen Glacier since the Kargil conflict of 1999.