Editing Line of Control (section)

{{Short description|Demarcation line in the Kashmir region}}
{{pp-30-500|small=yes}}
{{EngvarB|date=January 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2016}}
{{coord|34|56|N|76|46|E|display=title}}
{{Infobox border
|length={{convert|740|km|mi|abbr=on}}<ref name=":length">{{Cite web|date=2 July 1972|title=Clarifications on LoC|url=https://mea.gov.in/in-focus-article.htm?19004/|url-status=live|access-date=7 September 2021|website=Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India|quote=...thus clearly delineating the entire stretch of Line of Control running through 740 Km starting from Sangam and ending at Pt NJ-9842.|archive-date=7 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210907104803/https://mea.gov.in/in-focus-article.htm?19004%2F}}</ref> to {{convert|776|km|mi|abbr=on}}{{Sfn|Arora|Kumar|2016|p=6}}{{Efn|{{convert|767|km}} long according to [[Mahmud Ali Durrani]] (2001){{Sfn|Durrani|2001|p=26}}}}
|territory1={{flagicon|Pakistan}} Pakistan
|territory2={{flagicon|India}} India
|established=2 July 1972
|treaties=[[Simla Agreement]]
|image=Kashmir Region November 2019.jpg|caption=Political map of the [[Kashmir]] region showing the Line of Control (LoC)
|establishedreason=Resulting from the ceasefire of 17 December 1971 and after ratification of the Shimla Treaty}}
{{Campaignbox Indo-Pakistani Wars}}
[[File:Un-kashmir-jammu.png|thumb|alt=The United Nations map of the Line of Control |[[United Nations]] map of the Line of Control. The LoC is not defined near [[Siachen Glacier]].|302x302px]]

The '''Line of Control''' ('''LoC''') is a military control line between the [[India]]n{{hyphen}} and [[Pakistan]]i{{hyphen}}controlled parts of the former [[Jammu and Kashmir (princely state)|princely state of Jammu and Kashmir]]—a line which does not constitute a legally recognized international boundary, but serves as the ''[[de facto]]'' border. It was established as part of the [[Simla Agreement]] at the end of the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1971]]. Both nations agreed to rename the ceasefire line as the "Line of Control" and pledged to respect it without prejudice to their respective positions.<ref>{{harvnb|Wirsing|1998|p=13}}: 'With particular reference to Kashmir, they agreed that: ... in J&K, the Line of Control resulting from the ceasefire of 17 December 1971, shall be respected by both sides without prejudice to the recognised position of either side.'</ref> Apart from minor details, the line is roughly the same as the original [[Karachi Agreement|1949 cease-fire line]].

The part of the former princely state under Indian control is divided into the union territories of [[Jammu and Kashmir (union territory)|Jammu and Kashmir]] and [[Ladakh]]. The Pakistani-controlled section is divided into [[Azad Kashmir]] and [[Gilgit–Baltistan]]. The northernmost point of the Line of Control is known as [[NJ9842]], beyond which lies the [[Siachen Glacier]], which became a bone of contention in 1984. To the south of the Line of Control, (Sangam, Chenab River, [[Akhnoor]]), lies the border between [[Punjab, Pakistan|Pakistani Punjab]] and the Jammu province, which has an ambiguous status: India regards it as an "international boundary", and Pakistan calls it a "working border".{{sfn|Wirsing|1998|p=10}}

Another ceasefire line separates the Indian-controlled state of Jammu and Kashmir from the Chinese-controlled area known as [[Aksai Chin]]. Lying further to the east, it is known as the [[Line of Actual Control]] (LAC).{{sfn|Wirsing|1998|p=20}}