Military tension permeates the high Himalayan plateaus and valleys, marking the disputed border between China (Aksai Chin) and India (Ladakh). This region's contrast is stark: the serene Buddhist stupas nestled in the Ladakhi mountains juxtaposed against the presence of Indian military convoys create an unparalleled landscape.

Once, this area was a confluence of cultural elements from India, China, and Pakistan—a strategic trading post and a centre of East Asian Buddhist devotion along the Silk Route. Today, it is a focal point of political tension. As the world shifts into a new global order, where India and China emerge as pivotal decision-makers, examining this contested Himalayan territory offers insights into the contradictory human nature.