What????? This is news to me. A contest between Russia and Britian over Kashmir? I thought they fought over Afghanistan not Kashmir.
The Aksai Chin region is a god forsaken place and has no strategic value if you discount highway 209 which connects Tibet to Xinjiang. There is more ego involved here than tactics.
Of greater importance is the Arunachal Pradesh region.
I'll respond when I have a chance to review materials on Moorcroft's and Gromchevsky's travels at home.