GARTOK-KASHGAR ROAD STUDY

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78T04743A000200030015-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 9, 2004
• Sequence Number: 15
• Publication Date: September 30, 1963
• Content Type: MF

27 Fc r u: iry 1904
Approved For Release 2004/05/05 : CIA-RDP78TO4743A000200030015-4 a 6 5 3
PLz 1~3
30 i eptember l ;v,~
CJpy -5" 0
f
25X1
M FV1 : Chief, MauufacturinG .md3 Service s Division, Ofl t
~w.. Chief, Requirements Drannh, Ileconnaissnce Gr:.up, CG`S
Chid, CIA/PID (N IC}
.:i CT G .rrok-&Lshf!ar Boast 4 tudy
:aC t (a) Requirement i'vrD. ORR/3C2/62
(b) Project No. C 3GO/Q3
1. This memevandum is in re3ponse to the referenced requireient re ;,~estifz
?:: ; .f is -n d graphics of.
t .i ont and surface condition of the read frc;m G::rtc:k (31 45' -
c } to Kashear (39 2; JN - 75 58) and any roads to the border fr.m this
b. Detail concerning, ::i.y :reads in the area which appear to be under
con truction or recently ec;--Tapl Led.
c. Doscribe any r:; ads leudine f'rc:m China into India.
.. ^'he following list of photos raV1Ac missions cvntttins most of the baiic
a3t yri .l . ~'_m which this study ~:us e;;t~.r .cted:
b.
C.
All major roads are described in detail in the follovin{ text. Brads
whiciz .ire r:f E:ecr;ndary i pJr ncc? as supply r utec, are plotted on the m tp x.nci
h z 'n. lcrend will give l.ll av.._il ble det.4ils on their condition. Any attexapt
6.) U- the 1aformaticu presented in the text war can the map as the basis for
;,~:?._.Z_nin the capacity of these rotes az supply routes tact be based on a
+_ieratitn of the terrain .fe-atures as well a.P the condition of the ro? .d. Roads
In L,;< unaer study generally become imp roved when they tr.ivorc-e difficult
.~;aaa nly. Many of the unimproved r~:t.ds traverse high level platc,_us, :.rc cm
-r..1.l1eys and intcrmuuntain basins ore relatively level ana contain well drained
cc-.mpacted c any" and Gravel. Such roads, although unimproved, rust be considered
>;,od supply routes.
Declass Review by NGA
Approved For Release 2004/05/05 : CIA-RDP78TO4743A000200030015-4
 Approved For Release 2004/05/05 : CIA-RDP78TO4743A000200030015-4
25Xi
I
Page 2
$UEJuC T : Gar tok-Kai hg:sr Riau Ztudy
4. To facilitate h encalirag, the Gartek- ohgur Road has been divided into
ur cection:s as f:ullc?va:
a. C . z toak-Gar Dz.;ng
This section Of the road generally follow the Tssax p? (River) valley.
The r :z_ u is single lone improved with few heavy Grades or sharp curves
enc::unte re::.
b. Gar Dzong-Rudug
i: rthwcst-w," `c fron Gar Dzc:ng this single l~:ne improved rend follows the
e 5a:t bunk of the Cartang (River) to, Rtclvait Naru (32 32N - 79 454. Pere the
line turns eastwa.r,l -long the Indus River to Ralajung (32 33N - 79 53:-")-
The road then creases the Indus by means of a narr.~w b.ri3 a and oontinuea
n rth through m:.intainouw terrain, traversing river valleys z nu p.assin
through rued terrain with no i&.jor difficulty. Beyond Churkang (32 5411
-
7 17c) the stead crosses flat alluvial plains to a point approxiri toly
three miles east of i;szdog. The main road does not serve Fudcg; h-weever,
u single l :ne imp..oved road, prcceedir westward fm m the main read over
flit z luvi l plains, passes through Rudog on its v:ty to Chushul, (33 ANT -
7) 38E).
c. Rude g - Yeh-cheng (37 531 - 7r 24Z E)
The road skirts the south shoo: of Nyak tshu (Lake) over 'flat alluvial
plains before encountering nearly 100 miles of very mountainous terrain.
The road generally follows river valleys through the mountains; however,
z, low ci vide must be cr scec ut apps oximcately 33 3511 - 30 lkis. A. pre-t
deal of snow is encountered. over such of this section in the winter maths
c, d must be considered an opera :icnal difficulty wliL ch would be difficult
to cverc . Beginning at ?approxiz Ately 34 27X - 80 25E the road enters a
flat alluvial plain over which it travels to approximately 35 53N - 7 25i.
It should be noted thyt this section of the road is almost entirely within
Kashmir . 3 orthwestward the r Gad encounters mountainous terrain for
appr.xim.~tely 250 miles. The road passes through this long stretch cf very
difficult terrain traversin;, sm:rU strewa valleys, with the exception of
a few stretches where it crosses ?s divide. The most difficult section
is located %.t ap sroximxtely 37 02N - 76 57=". It should be noted, that the
road ug in p ,:,sea through Kashmir territory. ,It approximately 37 25H -
77 15E the road, descends into a basin. rr