Line of Control

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Coordinates: 34°56′N, 76°46′E

Shown in green is the Kashmiri region under Pakistani control. The orange-brown region represents Indian-administration Jammu and Kashmir while the Aksai Chin is under Chinese administration

The Line of Control (LOC) (also known as the Line of Actual Control) is a line which demarcates the artificial boundary between the territories controlled by two militaries or political entities.

[edit] Names

Specifically, the term "LOC" refers to the military control line between India and Pakistan, in the province of Kashmir. Originally known as the "Ceasefire Line", it was redesignated the "Line of Control" after the Simla Agreement, which was formalized in December 1971. The Indians refer to their portion of the territory as Jammu and Kashmir.The Pakistanis refer to their portion of the territory as Azad (Free) Jammu and Kashmir.

The cease-fire line between the Republic of India and the People's Republic of China in the Aksai Chin is known as the "Line of Actual Control" (LAC). There have been proposals in the Indian press to regularize the LOC as the international boundary between India and Pakistan; this, however, is against official Indian government policy. Pakistan also desires sovereignty over the entire area.

Kargil picturing the Line of Control. On the left of the LOC is Pakistan, India is to the right.

[edit] Wars

The LOC has seen various Indo-Pakistani Wars, the latest one being in 1999 when both India and Pakistan fought in the Kargil War. There have been frequent artillery duels between India and Pakistan along the LOC.

[edit] Sources

Webpage from the Indian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, describes the methodology of setting up the Simla Agreement.

[edit] See Also

The Treaty of Accession which shows Maharaja Hari Singh's accession of the state of Jammu and Kashmir to India

• Wagah border crossing between India and Pakistan
• Indian Kashmir barrier
• Timeline of the Kashmir conflict
• Kashmiriyat - a socio-cultural ethos of religious harmony and Kashmiri consciousness.
• Instrument of Accession (Jammu and Kashmir) to the Country / Dominion of India
• Karan Singh, son of Maharaja Hari Singh
• Maharaja Hari Singh (1895–1961), was the last ruling Maharaja / Emperor / King of all Lands and Territories of the princely state / Kingdom of Jammu and Kashmir in India. He was the Father of Dr. Karan Singh.
• LOC Kargil, a 2003 Bollywood war film based on "Kargil War" or the "Indo-Pakistani War of 1999", directed by J.P.Dutta
• Azad Kashmir an area of Kashmir administered by Pakistan
• Trans-Karakoram Tract an area of Kashmir administered by China
• Aksai Chin an area of Kashmir administered by China
• Shaikh Abdullah, Politician
• Baltistan
• Northern Areas
• Pamir Mountains
• Wakhan
• Gilgit Agency
• List of topics on the land and the people of “Jammu and Kashmir”

[edit] External Links

• Conflict in Kashmir: Selected Internet Resources by the Library, University of California, Berkeley, USA; University of California, Berkeley Library Bibliographies and Web-Bibliographies list