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Since its independence, the production of the Indian state at its Himalayan border has been largely driven by geopolitical concerns. The assertion of Indian sovereignty in the high mountains of the historically isolated region of Ladakh is achieved through militarization and the development of road infrastructure. What are the consequences of the military production of road infrastructure for populations living in border regions? The history of road building in northwest India is evidence of arbitrary development that marginalizes parts of the border area that have little strategic interest. Using the case of Zanskar, this article examines a material dimension of citizenship in India, as the construction of roads constitutes a technopolitical terrain on which a community engages the state. In particular, in order to tackle the problem of isolation created by an underdeveloped road network, Zanskarpas use different tactics, from taking care of road building through local initiatives to putting forward the military argument in order to call on the State to invest in the completion of roads.