On the rugged face of the mountains, there are eight jutting out spurs that extend into the lake and are known as ‘fingers’ and it is these fingers that have grown into a point of contention between the two countries.
New Delhi: The Pangong Tso or the Pangong Lake (Tso is Ladakhi means lake) in Ladakh is a pristine 135-km-long narrow landlocked waterbody housed amid the rugged Himalayas and although it was popularised by the 2009-Bollywood movie 3 Idiots, the tso is as important for the local residents as it is for India, from the military point of view.
However, it is here that India continues to intermittently clash with the Chinese troops who too claim their right on a larger part of the lake and its surroundings. The point of contention being the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and from where does it pass.
On the rugged face of the mountains, there are eight jutting out spurs that extend into the lake and are known as ‘fingers’ and it is these fingers that have grown into a point of contention between the two countries.
If you remember, Pangong Tso is where the two troops had engaged in a fisticuff of sorts and a video had gone viral showing the personnel of the two Armies using their fists and throwing rocks at each other in an escalated stand-off.
As recently as this week, Pangong Tso was once again in news after Indian media reports claimed, and the MEA later confirmed, that China is building a second bridge in the Pangong Tso lake. While earlier it was believed that the first one was the permanent structure, reports suggest it is the second bridge which is the permanent structure and the first one was built to facilitate the construction of the second bridge.
But why is a pristine, blue waterbody so important for the two countries? The Theorist explains why is Pangong Tso important for both India and China
Dispute over Line of Actual Control (LAC)
In 1947, India had inherited the original international boundary and had a larger share of the lake in those days. Later, in 1959, China informed India about a claim line that showed most of the lake in their territory. According to India, the LAC passes through Finger 8 but China claims that it passes through Finger 4. It is important to note that in 1962, Dhan Singh Thapa had fought with the Chinese troops at Finger 8. However, now, it houses China’s military base.
In 1962, China had taken control of the land till Finger 8 and later, till Finger 4 and that leads to clashes with Indian troops as the Chinese forces do not allow Indian Army to patrol in that area.
The LAC is so disputed that while India claims it is 3,488 km long, the Chinese government believes it is only around 2,000 km. While most of the LAC passes through land, some bit of it passes through the Pangong Tso but both India and China do not agree upon the point from where it passes leading to clashes between the two Armies.
Pangong Tso’s importance for Ladakhis
While very little has been studied about the history of the lake, it is believed that Pangong Tso’s brackish water is a source of rock salt that the Ladakhis used to use. Rock salt would also be used in making several traditional medicines but later, with the availability of commercial salt, the people of this area shifted to the iodised version of the condiment. But that did not stop the Ladakhis from giving any less importance to the lake.
Even till now, whenever the Chinese troops enter Indian soil, alongside the Indian Army, it is the locals who resist the forces.
Strategic importance of Pangong Tso
The lake itself does not have much tactical significance but it is the Chushul approach, one of the most strategic ones, that China may use in the situation on an offensive. In fact, in 1962, China had used this approach to launch its offensive.
Towards the north of the lake today is Indian Army’s Dhan Singh Thapa post and it is this point Thapa and his platoon were defending in order to protect the Chushul airfield.
Anup Verma is a journalist with more than 12 years of experience. He has worked with The Pioneer and Millennium Post in the past. He also worked as a Media Advisor with the MCD. Currently, he is the editor of The Theorist.