galwan

Galwan refers to the Galwan Valley and the Galwan River in the eastern part of Ladakh, near the disputed Line of Actual Control between India and China. The valley is part of the broader border area around Aksai Chin and lies in rugged, high-altitude terrain. The Galwan River rises in the region and flows into the Shyok River, and the name is used for both the river and the valley.

The Galwan area is within the long-standing Sino-Indian border dispute that has seen patrols and occasional clashes over the decades. The broader border issue originated from disagreements over where the Line of Actual Control lies after the 1962 Sino-Indian War, with multiple friction points along the boundary.

On June 15–16, 2020, Indian and Chinese troops clashed in the Galwan Valley. Reports indicate the confrontation involved hand-to-hand combat with improvised weapons rather than firearm use. India said 20 soldiers were killed and 76 were wounded; China acknowledged casualties but has not released official numbers. The incident marked a significant escalation in border tensions and prompted renewed diplomatic and military talks between the two countries.

In the months that followed, several disengagement agreements were announced at various friction points along the Line of Actual Control, and troops were pulled back from some locations. However, the broader border dispute remained unresolved, and Galwan became a focal point for discussions about border management and military deployment in the region.