All articles tagged with #ladakh
The article describes a recent visit to India's border regions with China, highlighting improved infrastructure such as newly paved roads that have significantly reduced travel time and increased accessibility in the tense border area of Ladakh.
In Hanle, Ladakh, a community-driven initiative has trained local villagers as astronomy ambassadors to promote stargazing tourism, preserve the region's dark skies, and reconnect with cultural heritage, transforming the area into a world-class astronomy hub while supporting local livelihoods.
Clashes in Ladakh between protesters demanding self-rule and Indian police resulted in at least four deaths and dozens of injuries, marking the worst violence in decades and highlighting growing frustration over regional autonomy and environmental concerns.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi defended the nullification of Article 370, stating that no power in the universe can bring it back. He highlighted the transformation of Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh regions, which were once known for terrorism but are now hubs of tourism. PM Modi emphasized that the abrogation of Article 370 was crucial for the people of these regions to join the mainstream of growth. He also addressed the criticism of BJP's choice of relatively new leaders as chief ministers in some states, stating that they have experience and hard work behind them. PM Modi dismissed concerns about attempts to unite the opposition, calling it a ploy to hide their actual gameplan.
China has dismissed the Indian Supreme Court's ruling on the legal status of Ladakh, a region at the center of a deadly border dispute between China and India, as "irrelevant" to its territorial claims. China stated that it has never recognized Ladakh as a union territory set up by India and that the western section of the China-India border has always belonged to China. The ruling came after the 28th round of diplomatic talks between China and India aimed at resolving their border dispute, which turned deadly in 2020. Despite ongoing disengagement efforts, tensions persist along the Line of Actual Control.
A junior commissioned officer (JCO) and eight soldiers were killed, while another soldier was critically injured, when their military vehicle skidded off the road and fell into a gorge in Ladakh's Nyoma region. The vehicle was part of a convoy carrying soldiers from a transit camp to a forward location. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and Congress leaders expressed their condolences for the tragic incident. A rescue operation was initiated, and the injured soldier is undergoing treatment.
In response to the 2020 Galwan clashes with China, India has fortified its defense capabilities in eastern Ladakh. This includes the deployment of surface-to-air guided missiles, fighter aircraft with quick response times, remotely piloted aircraft for surveillance, and transport aircraft like Chinooks for troop movements. Helicopters have also played a vital role in infrastructure development in the rugged terrain. Additionally, radars and bridge construction over the Indus River have been deployed to strengthen India's defense infrastructure swiftly.