https://indianpedia.org/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Bilafond_LaBilafond La - Revision history2026-07-31T09:29:25ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.45.4https://indianpedia.org/index.php?title=Bilafond_La&diff=458983&oldid=prevRanehospital at 03:12, 14 February 20262026-02-14T03:12:20Z<p></p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{Short description|Mountain pass, India}}<br />
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2024}}<br />
{{confuse|Bilafond Glacier}}<br />
{{Infobox mountain pass<br />
| name = Bilafond La<br />
| photo = <br />
| photo_caption = <br />
| map = Ladakh#India<br />
| map_caption = Location in Ladakh, India<br />
| elevation_m = 5450<br />
| elevation_ref = <br />
| traversed = <br />
| location = [[Ladakh]] (controlled by [[India]], claimed by Pakistan)<ref name=BaghelNusser>{{cite journal |title=Securing the heights; The vertical dimension of the Siachen conflict between India and Pakistan in the Eastern Karakoram |journal=Political Geography |author=Baghel, Ravi |volume=48 |pages=31–32 |date=2015-06-17|publisher=Elsevier |author2=Nusser, Marcus |doi=10.1016/j.polgeo.2015.05.001|doi-access=free }}</ref><ref name=Wirsing>{{cite book |last = Wirsing |first = Robert |title = Pakistan's security under Zia, 1977-1988: the policy imperatives of a peripheral Asian state |publisher = Palgrave Macmillan, 1991 |isbn = 978-0-312-06067-1|date = 15 November 1991 }}</ref> <!--As per the result of [/w/index.php this] RfC. Please do not edit location field without relevant discussion.--><br />
| range = Eastern [[Karakoram]] Range<br />
| coordinates = {{coord|35|23|N|76|57|E|display=title,inline|region:PK_type:pass_source:GNS-enwiki}}<br />
| topo = <br />
| mapframe = yes<br />
| mapframe-wikidata = yes<br />
}}<br />
[[File:Kashmir_map.jpg|thumb|420x346px|right|Indo-Pakistani mutually-agreed undisputed ''"International Border"'' (IB) in the black line, Indo-Pakistani ''"Line of Control"'' (LoC) in black dotted line in the north and west, Indo-Sino ''"Line of Actual"'' (LAC) in black dotted line in the east, Indo-Pakistani line across Siachen in north is ''"Actual Ground Position Line"'' (AGPL). The areas shown in green are the two Pakistani-controlled areas: Gilgit–Baltistan in the north and Azad Kashmir in the south. The area shown in orange is the Indian-controlled territories of Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh, and the diagonally-hatched area to the east is the Chinese-controlled area known as Aksai Chin. ''"Territories ceded by Pakistan to China claimed by India"'' in the north is Shaksgam ([[Trans-Karakoram Tract]]).]]<br />
[[File:Un-kashmir-jammu.png|thumb|420x380px|right|[[United Nations]] map of Siachen Glacier showing ''"Point NJ980420"'' (Point NJ9842) as starting point of ''"Actual Ground Position Line"'' (AGPL), Goma military camp of Pakistan, [[Nubra River]] valley and Siachen glaciers held by India; Bilafond La and Sia La north of NJ9842 are also held by India. Masherbrum Range, Baltoro Glacier, Baltoro Glacier, Baltoro Muztagh and K2 are held by Pakistan.]]<br />
<br />
'''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 {{convert|40|km|abbr=on}} directly north of map point [[NJ9842]] which defined the end of the 1972 Line of Control between [[Pakistan]] and [[India]] as part of the [[Simla Agreement]]. Bilafond La is on the ancient [[Silk Road]] linking the [[Indian subcontinent]] and [[China]]. It has been under Indian control since 1984.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2011/20110606/edit.htm|title=The Tribune, Chandigarh, India – Opinions|website=Tribuneindia.com|access-date=11 August 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
The [[Saltoro Mountains]] Range, of which western slopes are held by Pakistan and separated by the [[Actual Ground Position Line]] (AGPL) the higher peaks and passes are held by India all of which remain snowbound throughout the year, provides access to [[Siachen Glacier]] to its east through five passes, i.e., listed from south to north are [[Chulung La]]<!-- CAUTION: retain redlink to encourage article creation.--> (5,800m), [[Yarma La]]<!-- CAUTION: retain redlink to encourage article creation.--> (6,100m), [[Gyong La]] (5,640m), Bilafond La (6,160m) - also called Saltoro La, and [[Sia La]] (7,300m).<ref name=block1>Ghazanfar Ali and Hassan Akhtar Ghani, Siachen-The world's highest battlefield; Military Technology; Bonn Vol. 22, Iss. 3, (Mar 1998): S15-S17.</ref> 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.<ref name=Wirsing>{{cite book |last = Wirsing |first = Robert |title = Pakistan's security under Zia, 1977-1988: the policy imperatives of a peripheral Asian state |publisher = Palgrave Macmillan, 1991 |isbn = 978-0-312-06067-1|date = 15 November 1991 }}</ref> India currently maintains a fortified military base at Bilafond La.<ref name=Child>{{cite book<br />
|last = Child<br />
|first = Greg<br />
|title = Thin air: encounters in the Himalayas<br />
|publisher = The Mountaineers Books, 1998<br />
|isbn = 978-0-89886-588-2<br />
|year = 1998<br />
|url-access = registration<br />
|url = https://archive.org/details/thinairencounter00chil<br />
}}</ref><br />
<br />
==Geopolitical issues==<br />
{{Main|Siachen Conflict}}<br />
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]].<ref name="Barua">{{cite book |title= The State at War in South Asia (Studies in War, Society, and the Military) |last= Barua |first= Pradeep P. |date=30 June 2005|publisher= University of Nebraska Press |isbn= 978-0-8032-1344-9 |pages=253–255 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=FIIQhuAOGaIC&pg=PA253 |access-date=2009-08-06}}</ref> 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 their position.<ref>See {{cite web|url=http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/MONITOR/ISSUE6-1/Siachen.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120614202041/http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/MONITOR/ISSUE6-1/Siachen.html|archive-date=14 June 2012|title=BHARAT RAKSHAK MONITOR – Volume 6 (1) July-August 2003|date=14 June 2012|access-date=11 August 2017}} 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</ref><ref>See http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl2304/stories/20060310001704400.htm {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081211144553/http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl2304/stories/20060310001704400.htm |date=11 December 2008 }} for a detailed, current map.</ref><br />
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==See also==<br />
<br />
; Near the AGPL (Actual Ground Position Line)<br />
* [[NJ9842]], LoC ends and AGPL begins<br />
* [[Gyong La]]<br />
* [[Chumik Glacier]]<br />
* [[Saltoro Mountains]]<br />
* [[Saltoro Kangri]]<br />
* [[Ghent Kangri]]<br />
* [[Sia La]]<br />
* [[Indira Col]]<br />
<br />
; Borders<br />
* [[Actual Ground Position Line]] (AGPL)<br />
* [[India–Pakistan border|India–Pakistan International Border]] (IB)<br />
* [[Line of Control]] (LoC)<br />
* [[Line of Actual Control]] (LAC)<br />
* [[Sir Creek]] (SC)<br />
* [[Borders of China]]<br />
* [[Borders of India]]<br />
* [[:Category:Borders of Pakistan|Borders of Pakistan]]<br />
<br />
; Conflicts<br />
* [[Kashmir conflict]]<br />
* [[Siachen conflict]]<br />
* [[Sino-Indian War|Sino-Indian conflict]]<br />
* [[:Category:Territorial disputes of China|List of disputed territories of China]]<br />
* [[List of disputed territories of India]]<br />
* [[:Category:Territorial disputes of Pakistan|List of disputed territories of Pakistan]]<br />
* [[Northern Areas]]<br />
* [[Trans-Karakoram Tract]]<br />
<br />
; Operations<br />
* [[Operation Meghdoot]], by India<br />
* [[Operation Rajiv]], by India<br />
* [[Operation Safed Sagar]], by India<br />
<br />
; Other related topics<br />
* [[Awards and decorations of the Indian Armed Forces]]<br />
* [[Bana Singh]], after whom Quaid Post was renamed to Bana Top <br />
* [[Dafdar]], westernmost town in Trans-Karakoram Tract<br />
* [[India-China Border Roads]]<br />
* [[List of extreme points of India]]<br />
* [[Sino-Pakistan Agreement]] for transfer of Trans-Karakoram Tract to China<br />
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==Notes==<br />
{{Reflist}}<br />
<br />
==References==<br />
* {{cite journal |title=Nomenclature in the Karakoram: Discussion |author=Close C |journal=The Geographical Journal |volume=76 |issue=2 |year=1930 |pages=148–158 |doi=10.2307/1783980 |jstor=1783980 |publisher=The Geographical Journal, Vol. 76, No. 2 |author2=Burrard S |author3=Younghusband F |display-authors=3 |last4=Longstaff |first4=T. G. |last5=Ryder |first5=C. H. D. |last6=Bruce |first6=C. G. |last7=Neame |first7=P. |last8=Hinks |first8=M. |last9=Reynolds |first9=J. H.|bibcode=1930GeogJ..76..148C }}<br />
* {{cite magazine |url=http://www.time.com/time/asia/covers/501050711/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050911020444/http://www.time.com/time/asia/covers/501050711/ |archive-date=11 September 2005 |title=A Slow Thaw |magazine=Time | date=7 November 2005 | access-date=26 April 2010}}<br />
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==External links==<br />
* [http://www.friendsoftibet.org/mediaonfot/2005.04.16-siachen_peace_park_or_war_zone-sanctuary_asia.html Siachen Peace Park]<br />
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{{Mountain passes of India}}<br />
{{Ladakh}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Mountain passes of Ladakh]]<br />
[[Category:Siachen Glacier]]<br />
[[Category:Mountain passes of the Himalayas]]<br />
[[Category:Mountain passes of the Karakoram]]<br />
[[Category:Leh district]]</div>Ranehospital