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India.com
15 hours ago
- Politics
- India.com
China's Incursion Into Indian Territory Continues: Beijing Silently Builts Road In Shaksgam Valley, Satellite Images Reveal
New Delhi: China has expanded a road network deep inside the Shaksgam Valley, a region that India has consistently maintained as part of its sovereign territory. New satellite images reveal fresh activity in this high-altitude zone, which lies just beyond the Siachen Glacier in northern Ladakh. The valley has remained under Chinese control since 1963, when Pakistan handed it over through an agreement India has never recognised. Shaksgam holds deep strategic importance. In 1984, India launched Operation Meghdoot to gain control over the nearby Siachen region, emphasizing the stakes in this part of the Himalayas. Spotted by open-source intelligence analyst Nathan Ruser and confirmed by researcher Nethra Desai, China's latest infrastructure move shows an extension of a road that cuts through the rugged terrain. This new stretch connects to China's G219 highway, known as the Aksai Chin road, and moves in through the Aghil Pass, which historically marked the divide between Ladakh and Xinjiang. Breaking: Amidst a thaw in China-India relations, the China have completed a new road cutting via traditional frontier pass i.e. Shaksgam Pass thereby completing a road loop. The China have now two-pronged entry to the Shaksgam valley General overview of the new developments attached (1/8) — Nature Desai (@NatureDesai) July 28, 2025 Desai, who had earlier flagged the first signs of construction in 2024, has now shared updated satellite visuals that track the progression of the road deeper into the valley. This new route indicates a calculated attempt to solidify China's logistical access to this disputed zone. The Legal and Historical Dispute The area was originally part of the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir. In March 1963, months after the India-China war, Pakistan signed a boundary agreement with Beijing and transferred the Shaksgam Valley to China. India has called this move illegal from the outset. New Delhi has never accepted this transfer and continues to assert that Shaksgam remains part of Indian territory. India's official position has been reaffirmed on multiple occasions. In July 2024, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal reiterated India's stance, saying, 'Shaksgam Valley is part of India. We do not recognise the so-called China-Pakistan boundary agreement of 1963, under which Pakistan illegally attempted to cede this area to China.' Pakistan, meanwhile, has leveraged territories under its control, including Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), to deepen its strategic ties with China. The handover of Shaksgam was part of a broader effort to strengthen China's position in the region. Over the years, both countries have increased their collaboration on military logistics and cross-border infrastructure. A 2024 report by journalist Tom Hussain in the South China Morning Post pointed to Chinese plans to build new land routes through Gilgit-Baltistan. The goal, the report said, was to improve ground access for joint operations against Indian positions in Ladakh and Kashmir. Chinese infrastructure projects across Aksai Chin, PoK and now Shaksgam Valley reflect a pattern: consolidating military and logistical control over disputed border areas. India continues to monitor these developments closely, viewing them not just as violations of territorial sovereignty but as long-term moves aimed at altering the ground reality across the Line of Actual Control.
Bangkok Post
5 days ago
- Politics
- Bangkok Post
Analysis reveals Cambodia as primary escalator in Thai border conflict
An analysis has revealed Cambodia initiated the majority of escalatory actions leading to deadly border clashes with Thailand, according to detailed evidence compiled by Australian defence expert Nathan Ruser. The Australian Strategic Policy Institute analyst examined data from February to July, identifying 33 Cambodian escalatory events versus 14 Thai actions. His timeline, based on observable military developments, shows Cambodia systematically fortified border positions months before clashes that killed 12 people on Thursday. Mr Ruser clarified that the identification of military equipment and units moving towards the Cambodian border came from official situation reports, not from satellite imagery. Early fortification evidence Satellite imagery detected the first Cambodian tactical improvements between Feb 23 and 28, when troops cleared and upgraded a frontline road at Sam Yaek Lao junction in Chong Bok. This marked the beginning of sustained military preparations visible from space. By mid-March, imagery showed Cambodian forces constructing access roads to the strategic Phnom Prasitthi hilltop, directly opposite Thai positions. Between March 18 and 23, satellite data revealed heavy fortification of this strategic base. Further fortified positions appeared on satellite imagery throughout March, including a substantial outpost at Hill-641 within 300 metres of the border by March 25. Aerial photography later confirmed the extensive nature of these fortifications. Escalating military deployment Following a May 28 firefight that killed a Cambodian warrant officer, satellite tracking detected massive troop movements. Within 24 hours, imagery showed Cambodia deploying about 800 to 1,000 troops, including elite forces, rocket artillery and armoured units, to border areas. By May 30, satellite data confirmed deployment of approximately 12 SH-1 155mm self-propelled artillery vehicles from Preah Vihear command to frontline positions – nine to Ta Muen Thom sector, three to Chong Bok. Satellite imagery from June 5 revealed around 30 T-55 tanks positioned near Preah Vihear temple, stationed at the intersection between the temple and Phnom Prasitthi outpost. Landmine deployment detected Satellite analysis identified systematic explosive device placement beginning July 1. Imagery showed Cambodian Engineering Battalion 392 planting over 120 PMN-2 landmines on Hill 570's eastern slopes, expanding to over 300 mines by July 3. Additional satellite data detected another 100 landmines planted in the Emerald Triangle area by July 10. These weapons later caused casualties among Thai forces, with two separate incidents resulting in soldier amputations. Weapons positioning evidence June satellite imagery confirmed deployment of short-range air defence vehicles to Chong Bok sector on July 4. Earlier imagery from June 14 supported Thai military claims that Cambodia had positioned long-range artillery targeting the Thai town of Kantharalak. The final escalation occurred on Thursday when widespread artillery attacks in the Ta Muen Thom temple area killed 11 Thai civilians and one soldier, with Ruser's heatmap showing concentrated Cambodian military activity throughout the day. Timeline verification Ruser's satellite-based analysis covers the complete escalation period, beginning with the Feb 13 temple incident through the July 24 clashes. The imagery evidence supports his assessment that Cambodia conducted systematic military preparations whilst diplomatic efforts proceeded. Key satellite-verified developments include road construction, hilltop fortifications, artillery positioning, tank deployments, and explosive device placement – all observable through overhead imagery analysis. The satellite expert, whose work on conflict zones including Ukraine and Myanmar has gained international media recognition, concluded that observable military evidence clearly shows Cambodia as the primary escalator in the border dispute.
India Today
6 days ago
- Politics
- India Today
A visual timeline of Thailand-Cambodia border conflict
Thailand and Cambodia have been exchanging fire over a border dispute that finds roots in the colonial rule. The dispute is decades-old, and there is a bilateral mechanism to manage territorial differences. So, what triggered the latest flare-up? India Today puts together a timeline of events that led to Thailand launching missiles from F-16 fighter jets in Cambodia. advertisementTensions had been boiling for months, but the immediate tensions stemmed from an incident in mid-February, when Thai police stopped Cambodian tourists from singing their national anthem at one of the contested sites, Prasat Ta Moan Thom, a Khmer temple near the Thai border. Nathan Ruser, an open-source analyst at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI), has closely monitored the clashes since then, identifying visible improvements along the border, such as the clearing and building of frontline roads and fortifications, primarily by the Cambodian army. Satellite imagery suggests that the Cambodian army built at least nine new roads, built fortifications and new outposts in the Chong Bok area, where the borders of Cambodia, Thailand, and Laos military tensions built up, Thai troops also cleared and built a new road straddling the border near Prasat Ta Muen Thom Temple in April, connecting the complex to a road junction in a bid to boost access to the site in case of any confrontation. Cambodian troops set up a new fortified position at Hill-641 in the Chong Bok area, within 300m of the border, as per ASPI analyst Nathan Ruser In late April, Thai and Cambodian commanders met at Prasat Ta Muen Thom, apologised, and vowed to manage future border disputes calmly. Days later, Thai troops spotted Cambodian forces digging fortifications in the disputed a brief gunfire claimed the life of a Cambodian soldier near the fortification made by Cambodian troops near the disputed Chong following months were marked by the movement of infantry, artillery and cavalry towards the border by both sides. Thailand also accuses Cambodia of laying landmines in the disputed territories that injured several soldiers. THE TRIGGERThe immediate trigger was an incident where a Thai soldier lost a leg and several others were injured after triggering a landmine during their patrol of the disputed land on July 23. Thailand had already closed all border crossings with exchanges took place the next day, July 24. Both sides accused each other of initiating it. Cambodia then fired rockets on Thai soil, Thailand alleged, to which it responded with mortars. A Thai F-16 fighter jet later dropped two bombs near the road leading to Preah Vihear temple, a UNESCO world heritage site, Cambodia said. Thailand has accused Cambodia of targeting civilian areas. The border dispute can be traced back to a 1907 map created during French colonial rule in Cambodia. The two countries interpret the map differently. Military fighting has broken out intermittently since 2008, but the last time that a major clash turned deadly was in STRENGTH COMPARISON Thailand is a much bigger military power in comparison to Cambodia. As per the Global Firepower Index database, Thailand maintains 3.6 lakh active soldiers as against Cambodia's 2.2 lakh. Thailand also boasts a mighty air force, with 46,000 personnel, 493 aircraft, 258 helicopters, and seven attack helicopters. Cambodia doesn't have any fighter jets or attack helicopters to support its ground troops.- EndsTune In advertisement
Bangkok Post
6 days ago
- Politics
- Bangkok Post
Satellite analysis reveals Cambodia as primary escalator in Thai border conflict
Satellite imagery analysis has revealed Cambodia initiated the majority of escalatory actions leading to deadly border clashes with Thailand, according to detailed evidence compiled by Australian defence expert Nathan Ruser. The Australian Strategic Policy Institute analyst examined satellite data from February to July, identifying 33 Cambodian escalatory events versus 14 Thai actions. His timeline, based on observable military developments, shows Cambodia systematically fortified border positions months before clashes that killed 12 people on Thursday. Early fortification evidence Satellite imagery detected the first Cambodian tactical improvements between Feb 23-28, when troops cleared and upgraded a frontline road at Sam Yaek Lao junction in Chong Bok. This marked the beginning of sustained military preparations visible from space. By mid-March, imagery showed Cambodian forces constructing access roads to the strategic Phnom Prasitthi hilltop, directly opposite Thai positions. Between March 18-23, satellite data revealed heavy fortification of this strategic base. Further fortified positions appeared on satellite imagery throughout March, including a substantial outpost at Hill-641 within 300 metres of the border by March 25. Aerial photography later confirmed the extensive nature of these fortifications. Escalating military deployment Following a May 28 firefight that killed a Cambodian warrant officer, satellite tracking detected massive troop movements. Within 24 hours, imagery showed Cambodia deploying an estimated 800-1,000 troops, including elite forces, rocket artillery, and armoured units, to border areas. By May 30, satellite data confirmed deployment of approximately 12 SH-1 155mm self-propelled artillery vehicles from Preah Vihear command to frontline positions – nine to Ta Muen Thom sector, three to Chong Bok. Satellite imagery from June 5 revealed around 30 T-55 tanks positioned near Preah Vihear temple, stationed at the intersection between the temple and Phnom Prasitthi outpost. Landmine deployment detected Satellite analysis identified systematic explosive device placement beginning July 1. Imagery showed Cambodian Engineering Battalion 392 planting over 120 PMN-2 landmines on Hill 570's eastern slopes, expanding to over 300 mines by July 3. Additional satellite data detected another 100 landmines planted in the Emerald Triangle area by July 10. These weapons later caused casualties among Thai forces, with two separate incidents resulting in soldier amputations. Weapons positioning evidence June satellite imagery confirmed deployment of short-range air defence vehicles to Chong Bok sector on July 4. Earlier imagery from June 14 supported Thai military claims that Cambodia had positioned long-range artillery targeting the Thai town of Kantharalak. The final escalation occurred on Thursday when widespread artillery attacks in the Ta Muen Thom temple area killed 11 Thai civilians and one soldier, with Ruser's heatmap showing concentrated Cambodian military activity throughout the day. Timeline verification Ruser's satellite-based analysis covers the complete escalation period, beginning with the Feb 13 temple incident through the July 24 clashes. The imagery evidence supports his assessment that Cambodia conducted systematic military preparations whilst diplomatic efforts proceeded. Key satellite-verified developments include road construction, hilltop fortifications, artillery positioning, tank deployments, and explosive device placement – all observable through overhead imagery analysis. The satellite expert, whose work on conflict zones including Ukraine and Myanmar has gained international media recognition, concluded that observable military evidence clearly shows Cambodia as the primary escalator in the border dispute.
India Today
12-05-2025
- Business
- India Today
Satellite firm, experts dismiss claims linking imagery to Pahalgam terror attack
Intelligence and geospatial experts have raised doubts over media reports that link the satellite imagery tasking of a US-based commercial satellite company to the recent Pahalgam terror reports alleged that Maxar Technologies - a leading Earth observation company - received a high number of tasking requests for imagery over Pahalgam and surrounding areas, while also having a Pakistan-linked firm, Business Systems International (BSI), as a Technologies has firmly denied these claims, clarifying that the firm in question did not order any recent satellite imagery of the area. "Our records indicate that BSI (the Pakistan-linked firm) has neither placed any tasking orders of Pahalgam or the surrounding areas this year, nor have they ordered any of the imagery of those areas through our archive," a Maxar official told India Today TV. The official further said that the speculation in the news reports implying otherwise was "false and misleading".Preliminary investigations into the incident have pointed to local support in the Pahalgam terror attack."When you have local support and logistics in the form of sleeper cells, you don't need fresh satellite imagery to execute a terror plot that involved shooting at tourists from point-blank range," an intelligence officer familiar with the developments told India Today routes and high-resolution terrain data are freely available on tools like Google Earth anyway. "Why would they risk operational secrecy with high-end satellite imagery acquisition when they have feet on the ground?" the officer added. Being a popular tourist destination, ample videos and photographs of the Baisaran Valley are available in the public in the geospatial and open-source intelligence community have also questioned the premise of the reports. Nathan Ruser, an analyst at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI), an independent think tank, also found nothing unusual in his review of Maxar's imaging patterns."Nothing in this article successfully demonstrates any abnormal patterns of satellite imaging over the terror attack," he wrote on X. "Accessing satellite imagery is no longer a bureaucratic exercise of the past, and it is no longer limited to large satellite companies. There are US, European, Chinese and even Israeli service providers competing in the market. Today, one can even order a satellite tasking request for new imagery through a mobile app, without even incorporating a company," an industry insider told India Today new high-resolution satellite imagery from a popular Earth intelligence platform, which sources images from several Chinese satellites, over a place like Pahalgam today would cost approximately USD 400 for 50 cm-1 m resolution imagery. Very high-resolution imagery (30-50 cm/pixel) would cost about USD 700, while super-high-resolution (15-30 cm/pixel) could go up to USD 2, Canada-based space intelligence company offers high and very high-resolution imagery from Western satellites at slightly higher least 26 civilians, mostly tourists, were killed on April 22 by terrorists armed with M4 carbines and AK-47s, who entered the Baisaran Valley surrounded by dense pine National Investigation Agency (NIA), investigating the case, has appealed to tourists, visitors and locals who might have any more information, photographs or videos relating to the Pahalgam attack to immediately contact the anti-terror InMust Watch IN THIS STORY#Jammu and Kashmir#India-Pakistan#Pakistan
