Geopolitics

Pakistan Occupied Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan
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Jammu and Kashmir - Historical

“And that is my definition of democracy, the right to be in a minority and not be suppressed.”   —Lee Harvey Oswald

After more than six decades of independence, there are a million plus citizens of India who are languishing under foreign occupation, being suppressed, humiliated and exploited by mercenary forces for economic gains. This statement may come across as ludicrous to all those who are unaware about the state of affairs in PoK and Gilgit-Baltistan regions of J&K. These areas were a part of the princely state of J&K at the time when the erstwhile Maharaja of J&K signed the instrument of accession. Due to some misplaced ideals of the then Indian leadership, the region was not liberated by the Indian forces during the Indo-Pakistan War of 1947-48. Intervention by the UN led to a ceasefire and a huge mass of land was forcibly occupied by Pakistan.

Ever since, this area has been ruled by Islamabad despite the fact that it is not constitutionally integrated with Pakistan and its people do not have representation in the National Legislature. Having received this bonanza without effort Pakistan set about misusing it as a tool to further its political, economic and strategic objectives; as time passed the covetous Punjabis of Pakistan realised the immense economic potential of the region and let loose massive exploitation to gain control of all assets. Governments and political dispensations in Pakistan changed over time but the policy towards this unfortunate region remained unchanged.

Gilgit-Baltistan

Gilgit-Baltisan is completely under the control of the Government of Pakistan. This area swarms with soldiers of the Pakistani and Chinese armies who are the unquestionable masters of their domain. No civilian has the right to even protest, in person or through the media, against their presence much less question their activities and atrocities. There are no independent human rights agencies, no independent media; the concept of freedom of expression is unheard of. The resources of this region are mercilessly looted, its benefits accrue to people who do not ethnically belong to this region while the ethnic population looks on as mute spectators; in case they open their mouths they are simply killed in cold blood and not an eyebrow is raised.

In the last 64 years, no less than 11 political systems have been experimented upon the hapless people. The Government of Pakistan through the enactment of the Gilgit-Baltistan (Empowerment and Self Governance) Order 2009 of August, 29, 2011, designated the region as an integral province of Pakistan. In accordance with this legislation, the Governor of the newly constituted province will head a 12-member council with 50 per cent  members from the assembly and the remaining 50 per cent  appointed by the Governor himself. This caveat, by itself, reduces the position of the chief minister to that of a dummy. No wonder, when the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) came into power there was a mad rush for the post of the Governor in Gilgit-Baltistan with no less than eight contenders in cut throat competition. The legislative assembly will have no control over defence and treasury. This devolution, which is the result of a protracted political movement of the people of this beleaguered region, clearly falls short of their justified aspirations and is being vigorously contested.

Even as both the Pakistani political leadership and army continue with their mischievous machinations the plight of the people is going from bad to worse. The region, which is supplying electricity to both Pakistan and China, has 14 to 16 hours outages on a regular basis because defective transformers cannot be replaced due to lack of funds. The area is rich in minerals, yet, the locals are banned from mining; the right has been given to neighbouring provinces and to the Chinese.

Lakhs of ethnic educated people are jobless and yet the people are not getting adequate government employment; there is not a single local Judge in the entire province. In case they look for a government job, they have to pledge to eschew all political activity that may be inimical to the interests of the State of Pakistan. In plain words livelihood is available to them only in exchange for their freedom of expression and their right to protest. On the other hand, Pakistani government officials posted to the area draw double salary. The few local government employees do not get salaries for months on end.

Natural disaster like floods and earthquakes add to the misery of the people. Schools, hospitals and other infrastructure damaged due to natural calamities are not repaired for years. Dilapidated poultry farms are being used as schools. No compensation is paid to people who lose their homes and belongings in such calamities. No subsidy is given to tide over bad times.

This region has also been subjected to ethnic cleansing, the Shia Muslim population that forms the ethnic stock is being mercilessly killed. The worst atrocities were committed by Pervez Musharraf when he was posted in the region as a Brigadier. His activities earned him the sobriquet of Butcher of Baltistan.

The locals of this region virtually live in the stone-age, bereft of economic development and basic human rights. The people are raising their voice against this blatant oppression. Spontaneous mass uprising with thousands, sometimes lakhs of people taking to the streets is a common occurrence. Sadly, with a total population of about 1.4 million these poor impoverished people cannot stand against the combined might of the Pakistan and Chinese establishments. The police and the army do not hesitate from opening direct fire on demonstrators; there have been instances where entire villages have been detained; sedition charges are slapped against local leaders with impunity. The charade of the Islamic State of Pakistan has been further exposed by the open massacre of innocent civilian in the region. The region’s ethnic population has been reduced to slavery.

On February, 28, 2012 and then on April, 3, 2012, terrorists attacked buses loaded with people from Gilgit-Baltistan and slaughtered more than 100 Shias. The unfortunate incidents occurred in broad daylight on the Karakoram Highway (KKH), which is dotted with police and military check posts. Eyewitnesses claim that police provided weapons to the assailants, who numbered in thousands. Following the Shia massacre, an indefinite curfew was imposed in Gilgit-Baltistan causing food and medicine shortages. On many occasions, the region is cut off from the rest of the world as traffic on KKH, the sole road linking Gilgit-Baltistan with Pakistan, remains unsafe and disrupted and air travel is cost prohibitive for the vast majority. After the death of more than 300 people, Imran Khan, the Pakistani cricketer turned politician who is the chief of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party that is presently ruling Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the province adjoining Gilgit-Baltistan said, “Failure to keep peace in a sensitive area like Gilgit-Baltistan is entirely because of incompetence and corruption of the government.” This is too little, too late for a massacre that is still going on.

Their only hope lies in the expatriates who are voicing their concerns across the world. On April 14, 2012, hundreds of Shias from all over the United States gathered in front of the Embassy of Pakistan to protest against Shia and minority killings in Pakistan. Members and supporters of Gilgit-Baltistan National Congress also joined the protesters. Malika Baltistani, the chairperson of Gilgit-Baltistan National Alliance delivered a speech about the rights of the people of Gilgit-Baltistan and condemned the Pakistani government for patronising terrorists. She lamented that even though Gilgit-Baltistan provides water, minerals and a safe route for Pakistan to China, yet, the native Shias are treated like captives. She said that Pakistan is pursuing the age-old Umayyad and Abbasid policy of Shia persecution. She said, “We are rebels and not traitors and Pakistani policies of alienation are responsible for this.” In a press note the president of Gilgit-Baltistan National Congress, Imtiaz Hussain, stated that the UN universal declaration on human rights guarantees freedom of religious practice and expression as a birth right. However, the natives of Pakistan controlled Gilgit-Baltistan have failed to attain their basic rights in the last six decades.

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Gilgit-Baltistan is an UN-declared disputed area and remains outside the constitutional jurisdiction of Pakistan. Several resolutions passed by both UN Security Council and UN Commission on India and Pakistan (UNCIP) have asked Pakistan to guarantee genuine autonomy to the region which would ensure political, judicial and socio-economic rights; all of them have been ignored by the Pakistan government with utmost contempt. Islamabad’s failures have caused an irreparable damage to the social fabric of the region, today, the urban parts of Gilgit-Baltistan present the picture of a war zone where natives live with fear and deprivation.

Yet another matter of great concern has been raised by a report titled “Pakistan’s Deteriorating Situation, Strained Relations with America: Deliberation on Leasing Gilgit-Baltistan to China for 50 years,” published in a local Urdu newspaper of Gilgit-Baltistan, Roznama Bang-e-Sahar. It is being contended that Pakistan is poised to handover the region to China on lease for 50 years due to certain strategic and economic considerations. The move has the complete support of the Pakistan army. It goes without saying that such a development will spell disaster for the people of the region

Gilgit-Baltistan National Congress, after its protest in United States, has made some demands. These include, respect for UN resolutions and reinstatement of State Subject Rule; assured protection to local languages and religions; resumption of trade and travel over Astore-Srinagar, Chorbat-Nubra, Marol-Khaltse, Drass-Gultari and Olding-Kargil roads to ensure travel safety on alternate routes; withdrawal of paramilitary from urban areas of Gilgit-Baltistan and strengthening of local police; neutralisation of all militant hideouts and launch pads from Gilgit-Baltistan into Kashmir; arrest and prosecution of militants and military personnel involved in Shia killings; control over natural resources and trade routes by the Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly; abolishment of the Gilgit-Baltistan Council and Ministry of Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan Affairs to ensure genuine autonomy as recommended by the UN.

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The views expressed are of the author and do not necessarily represent the opinions or policies of the Indian Defence Review.

About the Author

Col Jaibans Singh

is a reputed Geo-strategic analyst, columnist and author of Jammu and Kashmir: The Tide Turns.

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