China sets up satellite towers along border in Kinnaur, Lahualspiti
Patrol parties detected six towers in Chinese territory close to the Indian border a few weeks ago, say officials
SHIMLA: China is strengthening its communication system along the border in Himachal Pradesh. The Chinese army has built about half a dozen towers close to Indian border villages in the tribal districts of Kinnaur and Lahaul and Spiti.
Towers were noticed by security agencies manning borders recently. The matter was reported to the district administration in Kinnaur and an intelligence report was shared with the home department in Shimla, officials said on condition of anonymity on Saturday. Patrol parties detected the six towers in Chinese territory close to the Indian border a few weeks ago, the officials said. Towers erected by China are close to Kaurik, a sugar point.
These towers would further improve communication for the Chinese troops. The towers are a part of China’s upcoming ambitious advanced satellite centre it has built in Nagari prefecture (province), which is just 125 kilometres from the Indian territory.
The satellite tracking stations in Nagari gives China the capability to detect all satellites in the region. The latest towers were spotted at Churup village in China-occupied Tibetan Autonomous Region, which is just 10 kilometres away from Kaurik.
“We don’t know what kind of towers they are but certainly, new structures have come up along the Indo-china border,” said a security official, who didn’t want to be quoted.
Police officials in Kinnaur too refused to disclose anything further. “We have routine liaison with the army but I cannot share sensitive details,” Kinnaur superintendent of police Sakhshi Verma said when reached on phone.
Himachal shares a 260km porous border on its north-eastern side with China and three battalions of the Indo-tibetan Border Police (ITBP) are maintaining constant vigilance that have been increased after Doklam face-off in mid-june last year. China was gradually strengthening it infrastructure long the borders districts. Kinnaur shares a 140km border with China, while 80km lies in Lahaul and Spiti districts.
China has also built some concrete structures in Shaktot village, five kilometres from Kaurik. China has an airfield at Lupsuk, which is nearly 190km from Kaurik.
Doklam standoff last year affected the annual cross-border trade, which begins in the last week of June and ends in November, through traditional mountain trails and passes. For ages, merchants have been crossing the Shipki La, a mountain pass at an altitude of 18,599 feet, to trade with Tibet. It is through this pass that Sutlej enters India from Tibet.