Pangong Tso Explained

Pangong Tso
Location:	Leh district (Ladakh, India), Rutog County (Tibet, China)
Coords:	33.7179°N 78.8968°W
Type:	Soda lake dimictic lake (east basin)^[1] cold monomictic lake (west basin)
Basin Countries:	China, India
Length:	134km (83miles)
Width:	5km (03miles)
Area:	approx. 700km2
Max-Depth:	330 ft. (100 m)
Frozen:	during winter
Pushpin Map:	China Tibet Ngari#India Ladakh
Pushpin Label Position:	bottom
Pushpin Map Alt:	Location of Pangong Lake
Pushpin Map Caption:	Location of Pangong Lake

Pangong Tso
S:	班公错
T:	班公錯
P:	Bāngōng cuò
W:	Pan-kung ts'o
S2:	班公湖 -->
T2:	班公湖 -->
P2:	Bāngōng hú -->
W2:	Pan-kung hu -->
Tib:	སྤང་གོང་མཚོ
Wylie:	spang gong mtsho
Thdl:	pangongtso
Zwpy:	Banggong Co

Tsomo Nganglha Ringpo
S:	錯木昂拉仁波
T:	錯木昂拉仁波
P:	Cuòmù ánglā rénbō
S2:	哥木克哥那喇令错 -->
T1:	哥木剋哥那喇令錯 -->
P2:	Gēmù kègēnàlǎ lìngcuò -->
Tib:	མཚོ་མོ་ངང་ལྷ་རིང་པོ
Wylie:	mtsho mo ngang lha ring po
Thdl:	tsomo nganglha ringpo
Zwpy:	Como Nganglharingbo

Pangong Tso or Pangong Lake (;^[2] ; Hindi: text=पैंगोंग झील|translit=Paiṅgoṅg jhīl|translit-std=iso) is an endorheic lake spanning eastern Ladakh and West Tibet situated at an elevation of 4225m (13,862feet). It is 134km (83miles) long and divided into five sublakes, called Pangong Tso, Tso Nyak, Rum Tso (twin lakes) and Nyak Tso. Approximately 50% of the length of the overall lake lies within Tibet administered by China, 40% in Indian-administered Ladakh, and the remaining 10% is disputed and is a de facto buffer zone between India and China. The lake is 5km (03miles) wide at its broadest point. All together it covers almost 700 km². During winter the lake freezes completely, despite being saline water. It has a land-locked basin separated from the Indus River basin by a small elevated ridge, but is believed to have been part of the latter in prehistoric times.^[3]

Names

Historically, the lake is viewed as being made up five sublakes, which are connected through narrow water channels. The name Pangong Tso only applied to the westernmost lake that is mostly in Ladakh. The main lake on the Tibetan side is called Tso Nyak (the "middle lake"). It is followed by two small lakes called Rum Tso. The last lake near Rutog is called Nyak Tso again.^{[4] [5]} The whole lake group was and is still often referred to as Tsomo Nganglha Ringpo (^[2]) in Tibetan.

There are different interpretations of the meanings of both Pangong Tso and Tsomo Nganglha Ringpo. The Ladakh government website says "Pangong Tso" is Tibetan, meaning "high grassland lake",^[6] however travel books say Pangong means "hollow".^{[7] [8]} Tsomo Nganglha Ringpo is Tibetan that is interpreted to mean various different but similar meanings -- "long, narrow, enchanted lake" by Chinese media sources,^[9] "female narrow very long lake" by early European explorers,^[10] and "long-necked swan lake" by other modern sources.^[11]

Geography

See also: Geography of Ladakh, Geography of Tibet and Geology of the Himalayas.

Pangong Tso is surrounded by three mountain ranges: Changchenmo Range and Pangong Range sub-ranges of Karakoram Range, and Kailash Range (Gangdise Shan range).^[12] Changchenmo Range runs along the eastern and northern bank of the Pangong Tso, and contains spurs Finger-1 to Finger-8. Pangong Range, along the southern bank of the Pangong Tso, runs from Tangtse in west to Chushul near the centre of southern bank of the Pangong Tso. According to the Britannica, the Changchenmo Range and Pangong Range are sometimes considered easternmost part of the Karakoram Range.^[13] Kailash Range, runs along southern bank of the Pangong Tso, from centre of Pangong Tso at Lukung to the west to Phursook Bay and Mount Kailash.^[12]

Changchenmo Range has several glaciated spurs which slope down and jut into the northern bank of Pangong Tso, and these spurs are called as the fingers. From west to east, these are named as the Finger-1 to Finger-8. The Indian claim of LAC runs east till the Finger-8, and the Chinese claim of the LAC runs west till the Finger-4. The overlapping LAC claim area between Finger-4 and Finger-8 is considered a buffer zone by India and China. Indian Military has a permanent base near the Finger-3, named as the Dhan Singh Thapa Post,^[14] and the Chinese Military has a permanent base to the east of Finger-8.^[15]

Pangong Range has several important features, from northwest to southeast: Harong peak, Merag peak, Kangju Kangri peak, and Kongta La pass.

Kailash Range on the southern bank of Pangong begins from Lukung, runs eastward via Thakung Heights, Helmet Top, Phursook Bay, till India-claimed-LAC at Bangong Co.^[12] Other important features in this range are Helmet Top, Black Top, Gurung Hill, Spanggur Gap, Spanggur Tso, Rezang La, Rechin La, Rezang La II, etc.

China-Claimed-LAC runs via Finger-4 in Changchenmo Range on north bank of Pangong Tso to Phursook Bay on south bank, then via Helmet Top, Gurung Hill, Spanggur Gap, Magar Hill, Mukhpari, Rezang La (1962 battle), Rezang Top, Rechin La, Rezang La II, Mount Sajum.^{[12] [16]}

India-Claimed-LAC runs further northeast of China-Claimed-LAC via Finger-8 in Changchenmo Range on north bank of Pangong Tso to Bangong Co on south bank, then via Black Top and Gurung Hill, and then along same the alignment as the China-Claimed-LAC via Spanggur Gap, Rezang La, etc.^[12]

India-Claimed-border runs further northeast of India-Claimed-LAC via Khurnak Fort on north bank of Pangong Tso to Mumkun peak on south bank, to Laban peak, Matung Nyungtsa, Spanggur Tso, Dage peak, Rechihlong and Bapi peak.

Sino-Indian border dispute

See main article: Sino-Indian border dispute.

Pangong Tso is disputed territory. The Line of Actual Control (LAC) passes through the lake. A section of the lake approximately 20 km east from the LAC is controlled by China but claimed by India. To the south is the smaller Spanggur Tso lake. The eastern end of the lake is in Tibet. After the mid-19th century, Pangong Tso was at the southern end of Johnson Line, an early attempt at demarcation between India and China in the Aksai Chin region.

Khurnak Fort lies on the northern bank of the lake, about halfway up Pangong Tso. The dispute over the fort was discussed in a 1924 conference, which remained inconclusive. After the conference, the British government decided that Tibetans had a better case and not only Khurnak Fort but also Dokpo Karpo and Nyagzu were part of Tibet. In 1929, following the protests of Kashmir Durbar, they decided to drop the British claims made in behalf of Kashmir state.^[17] The Chinese established their military presence in the Khurnak Fort by 1958.^[18]

On 20 October 1962, Pangong Tso saw military action during the Sino-Indian War, successful for the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA).^[19] The area remains a sensitive border point along the LAC.^{[20] [21]} Incursions from the Chinese side are common.^[22]

In August 2017, Indian and Chinese forces near Pangong Tso engaged in a melee involving kicking, punching, rock throwing, and use of makeshift weapons such as sticks and rods.^[23] On 11 September 2019, PLA troops confronted Indian troops on the northern bank.^{[24] [25]} On 5–6 May 2020, a face-off between about 250 Indian and Chinese troops near the lake resulted in casualties on both sides.^{[26] [27] [28] [29]}

On 29–30 August 2020, Indian troops occupied many heights on the south bank of Pangong Tso. The heights included Rezang La, Reqin La, Black Top, Hanan, Helmet, Gurung Hill, Gorkha Hill and Magar Hill.^[30] Some of these heights are in the grey zone of the LAC and overlook Chinese camps.^[31] India chose to pull back from these positions as leverage for larger disengagement.^[32] Both the Chinese and Indian militaries have vessels stationed on the lake.^{[33] [34] [35]}

Since 2022, China built a bridge across the lake near the Khurnak Fort.^{[36] [37]} The construction of the 400-meter bridge was completed on July 2024.^[38]

Transport & roads

See also: India-China Border Roads and India-China border infrastructure.

Following roads provide the access within the Indian held area:

• "Phobrang-Marsimik La-Tsogtsalu-Hot Springs Road" (PMTHR) or "Marsimik La Road" (MLR) in Changchenmo Range, via Phobrang & Marsimik La is a motorable black-topped road which runs east of Pangong Tso.^[39] It also provides access to the "Finger-4 Road".

• "Finger-4 Road" (F4R), is a black top motorable road till "Finger-4" on the northern bank of the Pangong Tso, being built by India which will be completed by 2025.^[40]

• "Lukung-Chartse Road" (LC Road), 32 km long road connects the northwest bank of Pangong Tso.^[41]

• "Surtok-Kakstet-Chushul Road" (CKC road), a motorable black-topped road parallel to the southern bank of Pangong Tso, provides shortest route from Surtok, Spangmik, Man, Merak & Kakshet to Chushul.

• "Pangong Lakeshore Road" (PL road), is a motorable road along the scenic southern shore of Pangong Tso from Kakset to Chushul via Lukung and Thakung (Indian military post).

Following roads provide the access within the China held area:

• "China National Highway 696": runs along the India China LAC and border along a route which is opposite India held Daulat Beg Oldie (DBO) & Burtsa, near Kongka La pass, to Nyagzu and Khurnak Fort, to Recho (opposite India-held Dungti).
• "China National Highway 219" passes by the eastern end of Pangong Tso. The lake can be accessed by driving 12 km from Rutog or 130 km from Shiquanhe. Tourists can rent a boat on the lake, but landing on islands is not allowed, to protecting the avian breeding grounds. There are several restaurants along the shore.^[42] The "Khurnak Bridges" are the twin adjacent bridges over the Pangong Tso, one smaller and a bigger one for the heavier vehicle, built by China to connect Khurnak Fort on the north bank to Rutog in southeast via a new road which will reduce the distance between two locations by 150 km. India claims that this bridge is illegal as it lies in the area claimed by India. It lies 20 km east of the point [Finger 8] which India perceives to be the location of LAC.^{[43] [44]}

Tourism

See also: Tourism in Ladakh.

On the Indian side, an Inner Line Permit is required to visit the lake, as it lies on the Sino-Indian Line of Actual Control. For security reasons, India does not permit boating. Groups are permitted, accompanied by an accredited guide.^{[45] [46]} The past few years have seen a remarkable increase in Indian tourists flocking to Pangong Lake. However, this surge has presented environmental challenges due to inadequate infrastructure to accommodate and manage the growing number of visitors.^[47] In 2023, on the Indian side the tourists are allowed to visit only the eastern and southern bank, access to the north bank is not yet open for the tourists.

Flora and fauna

See also: Wildlife of Ladakh.

The eastern part of the lake is fresh, with the content of total dissolved solids at 0.68 g/L, while the western part of the lake is saline, with the salinity at 11.02 g/L.^[48] The brackish water of the lake has very low micro-vegetation. Guides report that there are no fish or other aquatic life on the Indian side of the lake, except for some small crustaceans. On the other hand, visitors see numerous ducks and gulls over and on the lake surface. There are some species of scrub and perennial herbs that grow in the marshes around the lake.

The lake acts as an important breeding ground for a variety of birds including a number of migratory birds. During summer, the bar-headed geese and Brahmini ducks are commonly seen here.^[49] The region around the lake supports a number of species of wildlife including the kiang and the marmot. The lake hosts large quantities of fish, especially Schizopygopsis stoliczkai^[50] and Racoma labiata.^[51] Freshwater snails of the genus Radix also live in the lake.^[52]

Formerly, Pangong Tso had an outlet to the Shyok River, a tributary of the Indus River, but it was closed off by natural damming. Two streams feed the lake from the Indian side, forming marshes and wetlands at the edges.^[53] Strand lines above current lake level reveal a 5m (16feet) thick layer of mud and laminated sand, suggesting the lake has shrunken recently on the geological scale.^[54] On the Indian side, no fish have been observed, however in the stream coming from the south-eastern side (Cheshul nalla), three fish species (Schizopygopsis stoliczkae, Tibetan stone loach and Triplophysa gracilis) have been reported (Bhat et al., 2011). The low biodiversity has been reported as being due to high salinity and harsh environmental conditions (Bhat et al., 2011).

Bird Islet is a popular location for bird-watching for tourists in Ngari.^[55]

Gallery

Maps

See also

• Aksai Chin and its locations
• Sirijap
• Rudok
• National Large Solar Telescope
• Spanggur Tso

References

Notes

Citations

Bibliography

• • Dortch . Jason M. . Owen . Lewis A. . Caffee . Marc W. . Kamp . Ulrich . Catastrophic partial drainage of Pangong Tso, northern India and Tibet . Geomorphology . 125 . 1 . 2011 . 109–121 . 0169-555X . 10.1016/j.geomorph.2010.08.017 . 2011Geomo.125..109D . .

Further reading

• Streule . M.J. . Phillips . R.J. . Searle . M.P. . Waters . D.J. . Horstwood . M.S.A. . Evolution and chronology of the Pangong Metamorphic Complex adjacent to the Karakoram Fault, Ladakh: constraints from thermobarometry, metamorphic modelling and U–Pb geochronology . Journal of the Geological Society . 166 . 5 . 2009 . 919–932 . 0016-7649 . 10.1144/0016-76492008-117. 2009JGSoc.166..919S . 6633788 .
• Srivastava P, Kumar A, Singh R, Deepak O, Kumar AM, Ray Y, Jayangondaperumal R, Phartiyal B, Chahal P, Sharma P, Ghosh R, Kumar N, Agnihotri R. July 2020. Rapid lake level fall in Pangong Tso (lake) in Ladakh, NW Himalaya: a response of late Holocene aridity. Current Science. 119. 2. 219–231. 10.18520/cs/v119/i2/219-231 . 239601454 .
• SINO-INDIAN BORDER DEFENSES CHUSHUL AREA (CIA, 1963)

Notes and References

1. Wang, M., Hou, J. and Lei, Y., 2014. Classification of Tibetan lakes based on variations in seasonal lake water temperature. Chinese Science Bulletin, 59(34): 4847-4855.
2. Web site: Ngari prefecture . Institute of the Estonian Language . 2018-06-03 . 9 January 2020 . Geographical names of Tibet AR (China) . 10 January 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200110214226/https://www.eki.ee/knab/valik/cn54ng.htm . live .
3. News: River basins with Major and medium dams & barrages location map in India, WRIS . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160304025619/http://india-wris.nrsc.gov.in/wrpapp.html?show=JI00410%2F . 4 March 2016 . Adobe Flash Player version 10.0.0 or greater.
4. Book: Hedin, Sven Anders . Scientific Results of a Journey in Central Asia 1899-1902: Central and West Tibet . 1907 . Lithographic institute of the General staff of the Swedish army . 521 . From Noh to Bal Rawling followed the same route that I did along the northern shore of the Tso-ngombo, which he calls the Tso Mo Gualari, dividing it into the sections: Tso Nyak, the twin lakes Rum Tso and Nyak Tso. He says that it consists of a string of five lakes 120 m. in length, the four most southern of which are fresh, and Pangong, the most northerly, salt. They are joined together by channels about 60 feet in width and 15 feet deep, the current running at nearly 1½ mile an hour..
5. Book: Saward, M. H. . Routes in Asia: Routes in the territories of the Maharaja of Jummoo and Kashmir, and adjacent countries . 1878 . Office of the Superintendent of Government Printing . 31–33 . Only the lower lake (the Pangong Tso proper) lies in Ladak, the middle (Tso Nyak) and upper lakes being in Rudok territory. ... The waters of the western end are much more salt than those of the eastern end near Ot. in the stream connecting the Pangong Tso with Nyak Tso the water becomes drinkable, and rich grass is found on the banks..
6. Web site: Pangong Lake . Union Territory of Ladakh . 2019-10-29 . 9 January 2020 . Pangong Lake, one of the most famous lakes in Leh Ladakh, derives its name from the Tibetan word, "Pangong Tso", which means "high grassland lake"..
7. Book: Michelle Coxall . Paul Greenway . Indian Himalaya: a Lonely Planet travel survival kit . 1 September 1996 . Lonely Planet . 978-0-86442-413-6 . The salty Pangong Tso - Pangong means 'hollow' - is the highest lake in Ladakh at about 4300m, and is flanked by massive peaks over 6500m high..
8. Book: Kirit Rindani . Indian Himalaya: Story of a 100 Visits . 7 January 2016 . Partridge Publishing India . 978-1-4828-5886-0 . 80 . The word Pangong means 'extensive concavity' which probably explains its size..
9. News: Pangong Tso Lake in Tibet . China Daily . 2012-07-17 . Pangong Tso Lake is a trans-border lake extending from the Ali prefecture of China's Tibet autonomous region to India. About 155 kilometers in length, the geographic features of the lake are indicated in the name which in Tibetan means "long, narrow, enchanted lake". . 9 January 2020 . 24 January 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200124202959/https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/travel/2012-07/17/content_15589533.htm . live .
10. Trotter . H. . Account of the Pundit's Journey in Great Tibet from Leh in Ladakh to Lhasa, and of His Return to India Via Assam . Journal of the Royal Geographical Society of London . 47 . 1877 . 86–136 . 0266-6235 . 10.2307/1798740 . 1798740 . the Pangong, but better known to the Tibetans as the Chomo Gna Laring Cho, which, being literally interpreted, means "Female narrow very long lake." . 6 May 2020 . 4 November 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201104064616/https://zenodo.org/record/1449388 . live .
11. News: Pangong Tso Lake in the Northern Tibet . Kangba TV . 2017-03-06 . Pangong Tso Lake, at an altitude of 4,200 meters, is also called Tsomo Nganglha Ringpo Lake, which means "a swan with a long neck" in Tibetan. .
12. https://theprint.in/opinion/if-india-loses-grip-on-kailash-range-pla-will-make-sure-we-never-get-it-back/542327/?amp If India loses grip on Kailash Range, PLA will make sure we never get it back
13. https://www.britannica.com/place/Pangong-Range Karakoram: Pangong Range
14. https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/itbp-to-guard-dhan-singh-thapa-post-near-finger-3-again/articleshow/81144757.cms ITBP to Guard Dhan Singh Thapa post near Finger 3 again
15. https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/both-china-india-ramp-up-infrastructure-on-north-bank-of-pangong-tso/article67034490.ece/amp/ India, China ramp up infra on north bank of Pangong Tso lake
16. Lt. Gen. H. S. Panag, India sits on Black Top with Helmet under its boots, The Print, 9 September 2020. See "Map 1 – Kailash Range Chushul Sector".
17. Book: Lamb, A. . Tibet, China & India 1914-1950: A History of Imperial Diplomacy . Roxford Books . 1989 . 978-0-907129-03-5 . 2024-08-01 . 359.
18. Book: Sali, M. L. . India-China Border Dispute: A Case Study of the Eastern Sector . 1998 . APH Publishing . 978-81-7024-964-1 . 82.
19. Book: Burkitt . Laurie . Scobell . Andrew . Wortzel . Larry M. . The Lessons of History: The Chinese People's Liberation Army at 75 . . 340–341 . July 2003 . 1-58487-126-1 . 26 June 2009 . 5 February 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120205072610/http://www.strategicstudiesinstitute.army.mil/pdffiles/PUB52.pdf . live .
20. News: Pubby . Manu . 7 October 2008 . Pangong Lake is border flashpoint between India and China . The Indian Express . 23 June 2009 . 6 July 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090706174711/http://www.indianexpress.com/news/pangong-lake-is-border-flashpoint-between-india-and-china/370135/0 . live .
21. News: Shahin . Sultan . 1 August 2003 . Vajpayee claps with one hand on border dispute . unfit . https://web.archive.org/web/20030801213428/http://atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/EH01Df02.html . 2003-08-01 . Asia Times.
22. Holslag . Jonathan . 2008 . China, India and the Military Security Dilemma, Vol 3(5) . dead . BICCS Background Papers . Brussels Institute of Contemporary China Studies (BICCS) . https://web.archive.org/web/20110606004107/http://www.vub.ac.be/biccs/documents/APaper_BICCS_2008_China%20India%20Security%20Dilemma.pdf . 6 June 2011 . 2009-06-24.
23. News: Sushant Singh . India-China conflict in Ladakh: The importance of the Pangong Tso lake . 20 May 2020 . . 21 May 2020 . 12 February 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210212020229/https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/india-china-conflict-in-ladakh-the-importance-of-the-pangong-tso-lake-6419377/ . live .
24. News: Indian, Chinese Troops Face-off in Ladakh Ahead of Modi-Xi Summit, Army Says Tension De-escalated . 12 September 2019 . CNN-News18 . 12 May 2020 . 7 November 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191107231903/https://www.news18.com/news/india/indian-chinese-troops-face-off-in-ladakh-month-ahead-of-modi-xi-jinping-summit-2305615.html . live .
25. News: https://www.rti.org.tw/news/view/id/2054821 . China's military exercises in Tibet frequently affect China and India's future crisis response . zh:中國在西藏地區軍演頻繁 牽動中印未來危機應對 . 10 March 2020 . zh-tw . Chang Ya-Han zh-tw |張雅涵 . . 16 May 2020 . 11 March 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200311153414/https://www.rti.org.tw/news/view/id/2054821 . live .
26. News: Dinakar Peri . 10 May 2020 . Indian, Chinese troops face off in Eastern Ladakh, Sikkim . . limited . 13 May 2020 . 12 May 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200512053057/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/indian-chinese-troops-face-off-in-eastern-ladakh-sikkim/article31548893.ece . live .
27. Web site: zh:中印邊境再爆衝突 150士兵毆鬥釀12傷 . Another 150 soldiers in the Sino-Indian border conflict caused 12 injuries in a fight . . 11 May 2020 . zh-hant |費風 . zh-hant . https://china.hket.com/article/2639292/中印邊境再爆衝突%20%20150士兵毆鬥釀12傷 . zh-hant |消息指，第一起事件發生於5月5日至6日，在中印邊境的班公錯湖（Pangong Tso ）地區，當時解放軍的「侵略性巡邏」（aggressive patrolling）被印度軍方阻攔。「結果發生了混亂，雙方都有一些士兵受傷。」{....
28. News: Chinese military bolsters troops in Aksai Chin region in Sino-India border: Report . 19 May 2020 . . On May 5, around 250 Indian and Chinese army personnel clashed in Pangong Tso lake area in Eastern Ladakh. . 20 May 2020 . 19 May 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200519125336/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/chinese-military-bolsters-troops-in-aksai-chin-region-in-sino-india-border-report/articleshow/75810930.cms . live .
29. News: Khalid . Saif . 28 May 2020 . 'All-out combat' feared as India, China engage in border standoff . Al Jazeera . 5 February 2022 . 5 February 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220205102530/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/5/28/all-out-combat-feared-as-india-china-engage-in-border-standoff . live .
30. News: Dutta . Amrita Nayak . Army now holding 30 dominating heights, earlier unoccupied, on southern bank of Pangong Tso . ThePrint . 3 September 2020 . 15 December 2020 . 2 November 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201102084611/https://theprint.in/defence/army-now-holding-30-dominating-heights-earlier-unoccupied-on-southern-bank-of-pangong-tso/495077/ . live .
31. News: Sagar . Pradip R . 2 September 2020 . India controls dominating heights in Chushul sector . The Week . 15 December 2020 . 12 February 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210212042416/https://www.theweek.in/news/india/2020/09/02/india-now-controls-dominating-heights-in-chushul-sector.html . live .
32. News: Dhoundial . Shreya . 2021-02-17 . India's Move to Occupy Kailash Range Became Turning Point in Disengagement Talks: Lt Gen YK Joshi . News18 . 7 February 2022 . 17 February 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210217162456/https://www.news18.com/news/india/indias-move-to-occupy-kailash-range-became-turning-point-in-disengagement-talks-lt-gen-yk-joshi-3445079.html . live .
33. News: Hooper . Craig . 5 July 2020 . On Pangong Lake, Chinese And Indian Fleets Square Off At 14,000 Feet . Forbes . 13 February 2022 . 13 February 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220213135849/https://www.forbes.com/sites/craighooper/2020/07/05/at-pangong-tso-chinese-and-indian-fleets-square-off-at-14000-feet/ . live .
34. News: P . Rajat . 13 June 2021 . Army gets special boats for Pangong Tso . The Times of India . 13 February 2022 . 13 February 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220213135849/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/army-begins-inducting-new-specialized-boats-for-pangong-tso/articleshow/83467836.cms . live .
35. News: Singh . Mayank . 18 August 2021 . China raises firepower & mobility near Pangong Tso . The New Indian Express . 13 February 2022 . 14 February 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220214235014/https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2021/aug/18/china-raises-firepower-mobility-near-pangong-tso-2346276.html . live .
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