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).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.
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 is on the ancient Silk Route linking the Indian Subcontinent and China.[3]
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.[2] India currently maintains a fortified military base at Bilafond La.[4]
^Baghel, Ravi; Nusser, Marcus (17 June 2015). "Securing the heights; The vertical dimension of the Siachen conflict between India and Pakistan in the Eastern Karakoram". Political Geography. 48. Elsevier: 31–32. doi:10.1016/j.polgeo.2015.05.001.
^ abWirsing, Robert (15 November 1991). Pakistan's security under Zia, 1977-1988: the policy imperatives of a peripheral Asian state. Palgrave Macmillan, 1991. ISBN 978-0-312-06067-1.
^"The Tribune, Chandigarh, India – Opinions". Tribuneindia.com. Retrieved 11 August 2017.
^Child, Greg (1998). Thin air: encounters in the Himalayas. The Mountaineers Books, 1998. ISBN 978-0-89886-588-2.
BilafondLa (meaning "Pass of the Butterflies" in Balti language, also known as the Saltoro Pass, is a mountain pass situated on Saltoro Ridge, sitting...
Saltoro Ridge immediately west of the glacier, including Sia La, BilafondLa, and Gyong La. Pakistan controls the glacial valleys immediately west of the...
immediately west of the glacier, including Sia La, BilafondLa, Gyong La, Yarma La (6,100m), and Chulung La [ceb] (5,800m). Pakistan controls the glacial...
of the glacier. The next unit led by Captain Sanjay Kulkarni secured BilafondLa. The remaining units led by Captain P V Yadav moved forward and climbed...
continues to hold this post, which lies just to the south of the strategic BilafondLa mountain pass, also controlled by India. Alongside the higher-altitude...
Pakistani-controlled Kondus Glacier and valley to the west. Sia La, as well as nearby passes BilafondLa and Gyong La, saw military action starting in 1984 during Operation...
Chumik Kangri (peak, 675 4m) K12 (peak, 7,428 m), held by India West of BilafondLa, held by India West of Bana Top (peak), formerly Quaid Post of Pakistan...
to near La Yongma Ri, Gyong La, Gyong Kangri, Chumik Kangri, BilafondLa (pass) and nearby Bana Post, Saltoro Kangri, Ghent Kangri, and Sia La to the...
Jammu & Kashmir Bara-lacha-la Himachal Pradesh 16,400 ft (5,000 m) On Leh-Manali Highway, near Himachal-Ladakh border. BilafondLa Ladakh 17,881 ft (5,450 m)...
NJ9842, LoC ends and AGPL begins Gyong La Chumik Glacier Saltoro Mountains Saltoro Kangri Ghent Kangri BilafondLa Sia La Indira Col, AGPL ends at LAC Borders...
near Khapalu, aiming to capture BilafondLa. However, they were repulsed by Indian Army personnel guarding Bilafond. During the battle, about 23 Indian...
permit from the Government of Pakistan and made the long approach via BilafondLa (the Saltoro Pass). They climbed the SW ridge of Teram Kangri II and...
to near La Yongma Ri, Gyong La, Gyong Kangri, Chumik Kangri, BilafondLa (pass) and nearby Bana Post, Saltoro Kangri, Ghent Kangri, and Sia La to the...
Hanle To Gartok and Taklakot Teram Kangri Sia Kangri Saltoro Kangri BilafondLa Galwan River History of Ladakh (Ladakh) The main written source for Ladakhi...
Light Infantry in BilafondLa, in Siachen, at heights of nearly 20,000 feet (6,100 m), participated in the defence of BilafondLa beating back repeated...
passes of the Saltoro Ridge immediately west of the glacier—Sia La, BilafondLa, and Gyong La. Pakistan controls the glacial valleys immediately west of the...
an assault in the region and gained control of a high point south of BilafondLa, establishing a military post on this peak, which they named "Quaid Post"...
1：Sia La 2：BilafondLa 3：Gyong La 4：Sasser Pass 5：Burji La 6：Machulo La 7：Naltar Pass 8：Hispar Pass 9：Shimshal Pass 10：Karakoram Pass 11：Turkistan La Pass...
Saltoro Ridge immediately west of the glacier, including Sia La, BilafondLa, and Gyong La. Pakistan controls the glacial valleys immediately west of the...
conflict, there was military action at Gyong La, and nearby passes Sia La and BilafondLa. Since 1989 Gyong La and Gyong Kangri has been controlled by Pakistan...
his leadership. Capt. Sanjay Kulkarni's unit was the first to land on BilafondLa and hoist the Indian tricolour. Kumaon units were instrumental in Indian...
Shipton, a British university expedition approached the mountain via the BilafondLa route, entering from Pakistan and operating under a Pakistani climbing...
4-mile-long offshoot of the Bilafond Glacier. In military terminology, Chumik is a minor sub sector of Bilafond Sub Sector, near Gyong La. In March 1989, Indian...
passes of the Saltoro Ridge immediately west of the glacier—Sia La, BilafondLa, and Gyong La. According to TIME magazine, India gained more than 1,000 square...
Ladakh. However, temperatures on Siachen Glacier near BilafondLa (5,450 metres or 17,881 feet) and Sia La (5,589 metres or 18,337 feet) have fallen below −55 °C...
arctic warfare. In September 1987, Musharraf commanded an assault at BilafondLa before being pushed back. He studied at the Royal College of Defence...
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