Can someone help me with this.
Pakistan gave China a large chunk of Kashmir in 1963. Why?
Re: Why did Pakistan cede part of Kashmir to China in 1963?
It depends what part of Kashmir you are talking about.
China controls two parts of Kashmir at the moment.
1, Aksai Chin. Aksai Chin has long been claimed by China to have been a part of China. It was occupied by Chinese forces in 1962 following the Indo-Chinese war. To avoid tensions Pakistan has never challenged China's claim to it.
- The Transkarokaram tract. This was transfered from Azad Kashmir to China in 1963; however, a provision of this transfer it that it is subject to he outcome of the final kashmir settlement between Pakistan and India. In other words, it is a temporary transfer and will be restored to kashmir once Pakistan and India (inshallah) settle their differences.
Both these areas came under chinese control after China showed itself to be the dominant military force in the Kashmir region by roundly spanking India in 1962. Pakistan had a desire to avoid tensions with China by appeasing it, as well as siding with the newly demostrated regional powerhouse.
My own view is that the transfer of the Karokorum Tract to China allowed Pakistan to pass responsibility for defending this area to China, with the guarantee that China will return it to the Kashmiri people once the dispute is over. Aksai Chin is so critical to China's transport infrastructure that China would demand it be ceded by any country that controlled it, be it India, Pakistan or an independent Kashmir. Aksai Chin links Tibet with Xinjiang.
And for an uninhabited, economically useless region like Aksai Chin, no country would risk creating an enemy of China rather than a friend.
Re: Why did Pakistan cede part of Kashmir to China in 1963?
^^ Oh ok