Indian Army Chief Declares 1963 Shaksgam Valley Pact 'Illegal,' Warns Pakistan on Drone Intrusions

Indian Army Chief Addresses Key Border Concerns

General Upendra Dwivedi, the Chief of Army Staff, on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, delivered a firm message regarding India's territorial integrity and border security. Speaking at an annual press conference in New Delhi ahead of Army Day, General Dwivedi addressed the contentious issue of the Shaksgam Valley and warned Pakistan against continued drone intrusions across the Line of Control (LoC).

Shaksgam Valley: An 'Illegal' Cession of Indian Territory

General Dwivedi unequivocally stated that India considers the 1963 boundary agreement between Pakistan and China concerning the Shaksgam Valley as 'illegal' and 'invalid'. India maintains that the Shaksgam Valley is an integral part of Indian territory, specifically within Jammu and Kashmir. The valley, also known as the Trans Karakoram Tract, is a strategically significant high-altitude region located north of the Siachen Glacier.

Historically, Pakistan illegally ceded approximately 5,180 square kilometers of Indian territory in the Shaksgam Valley to China under the 1963 agreement. India has consistently protested against any activities in the region, including Chinese infrastructure development projects, particularly those associated with the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). China, in response, has reaffirmed its territorial claims, asserting that its infrastructure projects are 'beyond reproach' and justified on its own territory.

Warning Issued Over Escalating Drone Intrusions

In a separate but equally critical statement, General Dwivedi warned Pakistan against continued drone intrusions across the LoC. He revealed that the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of India and Pakistan had discussed the issue on January 13, 2026, with India conveying that such drone actions are 'unacceptable' and must cease.

Recent incidents highlighted by the Army Chief include:

• Five drone intrusions reported in the Jammu region on Sunday evening, January 11.
• At least eight drones sighted since January 10.
• One drone incident involved the suspected dropping of pistols, ammunition magazines, and a grenade.

General Dwivedi suggested that these drones could be 'defensive drones' used for reconnaissance or to identify potential gaps for terrorist infiltration. He emphasized that India would no longer exercise the same level of restraint as in previous operations, warning that any further state-sponsored provocations or airspace violations would be met with a 'decisive and overwhelming military response.' The situation along the Western Front and in Jammu and Kashmir remains sensitive but firmly under control.