Lalitaditya the Great had annexed Gilgit-Baltistan and Ladakh to Kashmir in the 8th century AD. However, these parts soon became independent and remained so till 1834.
After the conquest of Ladakh in 1834, Kashmiri Commander Zorawar Singh annexed Gilgit-Baltistan to Kashmir in 1840.
After subjugating Ladakh, Dogra general Zorawar Singh immediately wanted to invade the Chinese Turkestan. Despite British pressure, all the area up to Shahidulla was taken in control by the Dogras, as the Chinese Turkestan then viewed the Kunlun mountains as its southern border.
His military campaign against Gilgit-Baltistan began in November 1839. In 1840, Skardu was captured by him and the ruler Ahmad Shah was forced to join him to raid Gilgit.
The primary objective behind the campaign was to control and monopolize the trade of Pashmina wool and Kashmiri shawls. and trade routes. The longest route from Lahore to Petersburg was going through Kashmir and Ladakh. The revenue coming from the trade was significant and a major source of the treasury.
Zorawar Singh after conquering Gilgit Baltistan and expanding Kashmir borders till Shahidulla (Central Asia) soon undertook the Tibet campaign in 1842. Tibet was then suzerainty of China.
Zorawar Singh, using efficient military tactics had made three divisions of his army march on his destinations.
His two divisions plundered Hanle and Tashigang and the third division, commanded by Zorawar Singh, captured Rudok, and when all three divisions joined together he attacked Gartok, a major trade center. Before the reinforcement could arrive from Lhasa, Zorawar Singh marched on Taklakot near Nepal Border.
After initial successes, Zorawar Singh was defeated by Tibet at Minsar owing to the worsened weather. In this war, Singh was killed. Tibetans advanced towards Leh but Maharaja Gulab Singh sent reinforcement under command of Jawahir Singh.
The subsequent battle took place with Tibetans near Leh in which Tibetan armies were decisively defeated which led to the treaty of Chushul, 1842.
In short, credit goes to Maharaja Gulab Singh and Commander Zorawar Singh for annexing Ladakh, a vast territory, to Kashmir (India).
