Territory and Turmoil

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.

Meha Dixit is an independent author who holds a PhD in International Politics from Jawaharlal Nehru University. She has worked with Amnesty International and Save the Children, and has taught at the University of Kashmir. Her book, “Piece of War: Narratives of Resilience and Hope” (SAGE 2020), is the culmination of over a decade of field research in conflict and “post-conflict” zones, including South Asia, the Middle East and West Africa. Her forthcoming book, “Disquieting Edges: Gender & Intersectionality in Jammu, Kashmir & Ladakh Borderlands,” is set for publication by Routledge. Her scholarly work has appeared in reputable peer-reviewed journals and numerous media outlets.

Saranjam Baig is a development and political economist teaching at Sultan Qaboos University in Muscat and at Karakoram International University in Gilgit, Pakistan. He holds a Ph.D. in Economics and Politics and an MA in Economics from Claremont Graduate University, as well as an MS in Development Studies from the University of Glasgow. He has edited two books and published book chapters and articles in reputable international journals.