Bilafond La

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Bilafond La
280px
Actual Ground Position Line shown with yellow-colored dotted line
Elevation 5,450 m (17,881 ft)
Location Kashmir Controlled by India (Disputed between Pakistan and India) [1]
Range Eastern Karakoram Range
Coordinates Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
United Nations map of LoC. Bilafond La and Sia La visible north of map point NJ 980420

Bilafond La (meaning "Pass of the Butterflies" in Balti language, also known as the Saltoro Pass, is a mountain pass situated on Saltoro Ridge, sitting immediately west of the vast Siachen Glacier, some 40 km (25 mi) directly north of map point NJ 980420 which defined the end of the 1972 Line of Control between Pakistan and India as part of the Simla Agreement. Bilafond La (Pass of the Butterflies) is on the ancient Silk Route linking undivided India and China.[2]

Bilafond La was a prominent feature during the 1984 start of military action in the Siachen Conflict between India and Pakistan. The Indian Army captured the pass in 1984 along with Sia La to the north and, in 1987, Gyong La to the south.[1] India currently maintains a fortified military base at Bilafond La.[3]

Geopolitical issues

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Bilafond Pass, as well as nearby passes Sia La and Gyong La, were scenes of military activity starting in 1984 during Operation Meghdoot, part of the Siachen Conflict, itself being part of the larger Kashmir Conflict.[4] Due to the strategic location of the pass west of the Siachen Glacier and near the current Actual Ground Position Line between India and Pakistan, the Indian Army maintains a presence to defend it.[5][6]

See also

Notes

  1. 1.0 1.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. http://www.tribuneindia.com/2011/20110606/edit.htm
  3. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. See http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/MONITOR/ISSUE6-1/Siachen.html for perhaps the most detailed treatment of the geography of the conflict, including its early days, and under section "3." the current status of control of Bilafond La, contrary to the oft-copied misstatement in the now-corrected error-plagued old summary formerly posted at http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/war/siachen.htm
  6. See http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl2304/stories/20060310001704400.htm for a detailed, current map.

References

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External links


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