This book offers a comprehensive exploration of the intertwined cultural, historical, and geopolitical landscape of Ladakh and Gilgit-Baltistan (GB)—two regions separated by the Line of Control (LoC) yet bound by deep-rooted connections. Moving beyond conventional security and strategic discourse, this volume focuses on humanitarian concerns and the lived experiences of local populations who continue to bear the impact of political instability, militarization, and border tensions. Through a multidisciplinary approach, the book critically examines key issues including border dynamics, divided families, socio-economic marginalization, climate vulnerability, and environmental security. It sheds light on emerging protests in Ladakh post-abrogation, political aspirations in GB, and the militarization of everyday life along contested borders. Grounded in ethnographic fieldwork, legal analysis, and normative frameworks, the chapters amplify voices from within these communities, offering rare insights into the aspirations, anxieties, and resilience of borderland populations. Rich in case studies and real-life narratives, the book bridges academic scholarship with grassroots perspectives, making it both rigorous and accessible. This book is useful to the departments of Border Studies, Peace and Conflict Studies, Political Science, International Relations, Anthropology, Sociology, and Security Studies. It would be an indispensable resource for policymakers, journalists, and readers interested in South Asia and border conflicts.
