Other conflicts Border skirmishes Strikes The Battle of Turtuk was a military engagement between India and Pakistan that took place during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971.

[1] Per the Simla Agreement, Turtuk was incorporated into the erstwhile Indian-administered state of Jammu and Kashmir, and formally became a part of Ladakh following the revocation of Article 370 by the Government of India in August 2019.

The village of Turtuk is situated in a strategically important location, as it lies in the immediate vicinity of the Line of Control, which separates it from Pakistani-administered Gilgit−Baltistan to its north.

It is also in relatively close proximity to the Line of Actual Control in the east, which separates Indian-administered Ladakh from the Chinese-administered territory of Aksai Chin.

Major Chewang Rinchen decided to use the mountain paths as the approach along the Shyok river was expected to be well covered by machine gun nests as well as well mined.

From the top of Pt 18402, the entire valley from Turtok and Chulunkha in the West, to the Indian headquarters at Partapur and the airfield at Thoise in the east was visible.

[6] On 9 December, the Indian force while approaching the Pakistani base camp of Chulunkha defence complex and encountered heavy mortar and machine gun fire from multiple sides.

When the mortar fire stopped and the force entered Turtuk village, it found that the Pakistani defenders had fled the previous night.

[6] On 17 December morning, the unit prepared to launch an attack on Prahnu and Piun, however on the same afternoon, the Pakistan government agreed to a ceasefire and the Indian forces were ordered to cease fire.