NJ9842, also calledNJ 980420 (in full: NJ 38 98000, 13 42000, yard based IndianGrid Coordinates),[a] is the northernmost demarcated point of theIndia-Pakistancease fire line inKashmir known as theLine of Control (LoC).[2] The India–PakistanAGPL (Actual Ground Position Line), begins from the NJ9842 on LoC and ends near theIndira Ridge at the trijunction of areas controlled byChina, India, and Pakistan.[3][4]
As part of theSimla Agreement signed on 2 July 1972, prime ministersIndira Gandhi andZulfikar Ali Bhutto agreed that "the line of control resulting from the ceasefire of 17 December 1971, shall be respected by both sides without prejudice to the recognised position of either side".[5][6][7]
In November–December 1972, the military delegations of the two sides met inSuchetgarh to delineate the Line of Control. After delineation, signed maps were exchanged by the two sides and submitted to the respective governments for ratification.[8] Scholar Brian Cloughley remarked that the delineation represented remarkable territorial precision. However, it terminated at the grid reference NJ9842, leaving undelimited roughly 60 to 75 km to the border with China.[9]
The point NJ9842 is on theSaltoro Mountain Range, at the top of the Chalunka Lungpa valley that runs north from the village ofChalunka. The immediate south of the point is occupied by the Korisa Glacier, the source of the Chalunka Lungpa stream which flows into theShyok River. To the southeast of NJ9842 is the Urdolep or Waris Glacier, which forms the source of the Waris Lungpa stream.
To the north of the point are the Chulung Glacier, which is the source of the Dansam River (one of the feeder rivers of theSaltoro River), and the Gyong Glacier, which generates a tributary stream called Gyong, all in Pakistan-administered Kashmir.
The prevailing line of control, called theActual Ground Position Line, runs northeast from NJ9842 for about 10 km, approximately along the water-parting line of the two sets of glaciers. Afterwards, it runs north roughly along the watershed line of the Saltoro ridge, which divides the waters of the tributaries of the Shyok River that flow into Pakistan-administered Kashmir from those that flow into the Nubra river and tributaries in Indian-administered Kashmir.
Even though several authors identify the point Khor of the 1949 cease-fire line with NJ9842,[10] the two points are quite different. Khor is further south, in the grid 39 00000, 13 20000 of Indian grid coordinates, closer to the Shyok River valley. The move up from Khor to NJ9842 in 1972 represented in part the territory gained by India in theIndo-Pakistani War of 1971.[b]
AGPL runs along theSaltoro Mountains Range from Point NJ9842 on the India-PakistanLoC to nearLa Yongma Ri,Gyong La,Gyong Kangri,Chumik Kangri,Bilafond La (pass) and nearbyBana Post,Saltoro Kangri,Ghent Kangri, andSia La to the India–Pakistan–China trijunction northwest ofIndira Col West on the Sino-IndianLAC.[11][12] The peaks and passes under Pakistan's control such asGayari Camp,Chogolisa,Baltoro Glacier,Conway Saddle,[12]Baltoro Muztagh, andGasherbrum lie west of the AGPL.[13][12]
35°00′30″N77°00′32″E / 35.008371°N 77.008805°E /35.008371; 77.008805
