1. Ladakh has a long and rich history of human settlement dating back to 9th Century. It has been at the crossroads of Asia for thousands of years and has seen many cultures and empires in the region. As a result, Ladakh has imbibed many traditions and cultures from its neighbours resulting in a unique tradition and culture of its own. It is bordered by Tibet in the East, Gilgit – Baltistan to the West and Xinjiang across the Karakoram Pass in the North and since 1947, Ladakh has been a subject of dispute between India, Pak and China.

2. The history, geography, strategic location and cultural linkages of Ladakh makes it significantly important for both China as well as India wherein its geo strategic importance flows from important border areas of Gilgit – Baltistan, Akshai Chin, Siachen Glacier and Kailash Mansarovar. Its proximity to two of our adversaries and being the only region having LC, AGPL & LAC and also having participated in all the wars fought since independence makes the region vital from socio-economic and military point of view. A strong hold in the region is thus of utmost importance to maintain our territorial integrity and ensure continued economic growth.

3. As Military Commanders, it is important to be aware of the history of the region, analyse the wars fought in the theatre & dynamics of geo-strategic fall outs that are expected in the near future including political, socio-economic and religious implications of Ladakh. Keeping this in view, a two-day seminar titled “Historical Perspective of Ladakh : Crossroads of Civilisations” is proposed to be conducted on 05th & 06th Oct 2023 with eminent speakers from military and civil domain having deep knowledge and expertise. This will help develop better understanding of the historical perspective of “Crossroads of Civilisations” i.e., Ladakh Sector. The seminar will cover myriad issues ranging from History of Ladakh, the boundary disputes and will focus on the wars fought in the region post-independence. The seminar will also touch upon the various infrastructure development projects that are being undertaken including “Vibrant Village Scheme” in the region.