page_title: Chorbat Valley
section_title: India–Pakistan conflicts
hierarchical_section_title: Chorbat Valley / History / India–Pakistan conflicts
caption_attribution_description: English: Author Mike Young
context_page_description: Chorbat Valley is a section of the Shyok river valley divided between Pakistan-administered and Indian-administered Kashmir. The Pakistan-administered portion is in the Khaplu tehsil, Ghanche District of Gilgit–Baltistan and the Indian-administered portion is in the Nubra tehsil, Leh district of Ladakh. Chorbat stretches from the abandoned village of Khaplu to the Bogdang village of Nubra.
  The Khan of Chorbat moved his capital from Siksa to Turtuk in the 18th century. These two villages are the largest villages of the Chorbat region.
context_section_description: In 1947, after the independence of India and Pakistan, Pakistan launched a tribal invasion of Jammu and Kashmir, which provoked the Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir to join India. The Gilgit Agency to the north rebelled and overthrew the Maharaja's administration. The Gilgit Scouts and the Muslim members of the Jammu and Kashmir State Forces stationed in the area organised themselves under the command of Colonel Aslam Khan, and launched an invasion on the Ladakh wazarat. By July–August 1948, the Gilgit Scouts overran Kargil, Skardu and the Zoji La pass that connects Ladakh to the Kashmir Valley, reaching the vicinity of Leh.
  But Leh held, reinforced by air and a tortuous mountain caravan from Himachal Pradesh. The Indian Army raised a local militia called Nubra Guards under the command of 17-year old Chewang Rinchen, which reportedly blocked various passage routes to Leh.
  The Gilgit Scouts were progressively pushed back beyond the line connecting the Chorbat La pass and Chalunka. The ceasefire line was established through these two points at the end of 1948. The entire Chorbat ilaqa came under the control of Pakistan. (Bogdang, never a part of the ilaqa, remained under Indian control.)
  Under Pakistani control, Gilgit dominated Baltistan, and both the regions were administered as a non-descript "Northern Areas" by the Federal government of Paksitan. Chorbat was merged into the Khaplu niabat during this period.
  Two further wars were fought by India and Pakistan over Kashmir. In the 1965 war, the region saw some action, but the two countries returned to status quo after the war. However, the Khan of Turtuk, Yagbo Mohammad Khan Kacho, was apparently looted by the Pakistani Army of his throne and all other valuables.
  In the war of 1971, Rinchen's Nubra Guards, now part of Ladakh Scouts, proceeded to capture further areas of Chorbat. They first captured a peak at 18,620 feet overlooking Chalunka. Then the two companies of Karakoram Scouts defending Chalunka were overpowered, leading them to flee to Turtuk. Turtuk was then taken in four days, followed by Tyakshi and Thang. The villagers were frightened at first, but Rinchen put them at ease.
caption: Indo-Pakistani War of 1947–1948
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