1. TRADE BETWEEN LADAKH, SINKIANG AND TIBET 2. CHINESE COMMUNISTS IN TIBET

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00810A001900120001-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 24, 2003
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: July 24, 1953
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 2003/12/18 : CIA-RDP80-0081OA001900120001-7
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
INFORMATION REPORT
CO NFIDENTIALL
COUNTRY China/Tibet/ Endia
SUBJECT 1. Trade Between Ladakh, Sinkiang
and Tibet
2. Chinese Coimnun.i sts in Tibet
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This Document contains information affecting the Na-
tional Defense of the United States, within the mean-
ing of Title 18, Sections 793 and 794, of the U.S. Code, as
amended. Its transmission or revelation of its contents
to or receipt by an unauthorized person Is prohibited
by law. The reproduction of this form is prohibited.
REPORT NO. 2591
DATE DISTR.
24 July 1953
NO. OF PAGES 3
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REQUIREMENT NO.
REFERENCES
IONS IN THIS REPORT ARE DEFINITIVE.
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The Tibetan traders who visit Leh (N 34-10E 77-35) are from the Chan, g
Tang area, an arid plateau region in northerm"Tibet, bounded on the north
by the Kunlun Mountains 'and on the south by Trans-Hiriiliyain Mountains,
These traders follow-the Chushul (N 33-36, E 78-3 -route from Tibet to-
Leh. Leh. Border check posts on this route are at Chushul and Koyul (N 32-53,
E 79-12).
2. Tibetan traders carry tea, incense and veils for-sale"in-Leh; on their
return they carry dried fruit, soap, cigarettes"arid sugars Traders from
Leh carry wheat flour, barley and eggs to Tibet, and return with wool
and silver coins.
3o From Leh to Sinkiang there are two main caravan routest
a. A well-traveled caravan route runs east from Leh to Shyok' (N 34-11,
E 78-08) from where it follows a 'river valley all o sit" due north
through Yargulak (N 34-0, E 78-13) to Murgo (N35-03, E 77-5i).
Between Leh and Shyok it crosses the-SOltak'Pass, where the trail
is narrow and difficult. This pass is 010-66d-to ponies for three-
months during the winter on account of heavy snowfall._ Beyon.g Sh k,
the last inhabited camp on this trail in Indian territory,'the route
crosses and reorosses the river as it goes north, and during the
sutmner floods these crossings are passable only to camels. In places
the trail is only wide enough to permit the passage-of one animal at
a time. Between Shyok and Murgo the country traversed is wild and
uninhabitedo The border check post is at Shyok.
b. The other main route out of Leh leads almost due inbrth, through
Khardung Pass (N 34-17, E 77-39), Khalsar (N 34-31, E 77-411, Tiggur
(N 34-=38, 3 77-315) and Panamik (N 34-47, E 77-33), turns west over
Saser Pass (17,480 feet) (N 35-02, E 77-44), and joins the Shyok
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route at Murgo. The trail from Leh to Khardung Pass is steep and rocky,
and the pass, which is covered with perpetual ice and snow, is closed
for two weeks in the winter because of snow and blizzards, This region
is uninhabited. Beyond Khardung Pass the trail slopes downward and is
easier to traverse? and from Khalsar through Tiggur to Panamd.k is com-
paratively easy. There are scattered homes,, barley fields and villages
along the route between Khalsar and Panamik. From Panamik the trail
rises steadily to Karaul Pass and on up to Saser Pass, which is covered
with perpetual ice and snow. In places the trail in this section is not
more than two or three yards wide. Panamik is a border check post.
4. From Ml rgo, the point at which the two routes from Leh meet, the main trail
is the Central Asian trading route which leads over Depsang Plain arid' Kara
koram Pass (18290 feet) (N 35,30, E 77.50) to Malik Shah. One of the most
difficult parts of the route is from Murgo to Kizil Yar, where the trail is
narrow and treaciherous. Depsang Main is covered with from three to five
feet of sxow, and in winter a strong wind blows constantly. Beyond Kara-
koram Pass the trail is wider and less difficult, and the last nine miles
before Malik Shah lead through a flat valley about four miles wide.
5. From Malik Shah northward, there are two main routes., the continuation of
the Central Asian trading route to Khotan (N 37-07, E 79-55), and another
leading to Karghalik (N 3754, E 77-26).
a. The Khotan route continues almost due north over Sugat Pass (17,610
feet) (N 36=.12, E 77-58) via Sugat Karaul, Shahidul.la Mazar (N 36-25,
E 78-03), Kilian Kurghan (N 3632, E 7809), Sanju Dawan,(N 36-389
E 7828) (16,650 feet), Tam Karaul, and Sanju Bazar (N 37-10, E 7830)
to Gum,, (N 37=,38, E 78-19), where it meets the main road from Kashgar
(N_ 3929,, E 7558) to Khotan.. The trail north from Malik Shah (N 3&5-59, E7&O2)
(15,200 feet) to Sugat Pass is easier to climb and less steep than
the descent from Sugat Pass on the other side. As-the trail nears
Sugat Karaull, an uninhabited place often used as a resting place for
caravans, it widens and becomes easier. The ascent to Sanju. Dawan
begins north of Shahidu.lla Mazar, and beyond the pass the trail
slopes downward through Sanju Bazar to Guma, which has an altitude of
4,050 feet.
b. The Karghalik route from Malik Shah leads in a northwesterly direction
through Khapalung (N 36=.08, E 7745) and Qulanoldi (N 3627, E 7716),
then turns almost due north through Yangi Dwarf (N 36-32, E 7712) and
Tapa aan, Ak Masjid (N 3`706, E 7708) and Kokyar (N 3723, E 7715)
to Karghalik, where it meets the main road from Kashgar to Khotana
From Malik Shah to Kulanoldi the trail is wide and easy to traverse,
crossing and recrossing a river. Beyond Kulanoldi the trail ascends
over Yangi 1 a (11,750 feet), through Kudal, and over Tapa Dawat a 3701,E 77-07)
(13,580 feet) to Ak Masjid, where it begins the descent to Karghalik,
which has an altitude of 4,430 feet. The last part of the routes
from Kokyar to Karghalik, goes through an agricultural area with
scattered villages.
6a Along the routes from Leh to Sinkiang there are camps or rude stone shelters
for the protection of travelers against blizzards. Water, firewood and
forage are available at a few places, but for some portions of the journey
caravans must carry forage for their animals during the winter. There have
been no reports or evidences of work to improve these trails.2
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7. The only Chinese in northwestern Tibet are the Chinese Communist troops,
seven or eight hundred of whom are stationed along the Tibet-Ladakh border.3
These troops include some former Nationalist soldiers. They first appeared
in northwestern Tibet in 1951, having come from the Khotan area in Sinkiang.
8, There were in the spring of 1953 no evidences or rumors of the construction
of airfields in Rudog (N 33-27, E 79-42), although the terrain in that area
is suitable for such construction. There was a military radio station in
Rudog, as in every military district in Sinkiang.
9. There was general discontent among the Tibetans as a result of the Chinese
Communist occupation. The Chinese were in complete control of trade and
business, but as of spring 1953 no land reforms had been carried out in
Tibet.
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1. Kizda shrine.
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Chinese Communist troops in Tibet were talking
construction of roads between Sinkiang and Ladakh.
also reported on the troops in this area.
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CO NFIDiNTIAL
Approved For Release 2003/12/18 : CIA-RDP80-0081OA001900120001-7