Pakistan has vowed to make it impossible to allow its citizens to breathe. Especially the ones that stand up against the oppression of the ruling institutions. It’s turbulent times for Pakistan which is facing all types of trouble; The Gilgit-Baltistan region is witnessing turbulent times due to atrocities carried out by the Pakistani government. According to a report by the International Forum for Rights and Security (IFFRAS), published last year , the China- Pak economic Corridor project (CPEC) has snatched the livelihood of people staying in Gilgit-Baltistan resulting in mass protests in the region recently.
The report claimed that the people of the GB region are demanding unity with India. The civil society of Gilgit-Baltistan is carrying out demonstrations every day to seek economic and political rights for the local people who are deprived of their basic human rights. The recent Protest Intensifies In Skardu As Locals Warn Pakistan Govt Of Civil War & Merging With India.
The geopolitical significance of Gilgit-Baltistan, with its borders shared by Pakistan, the Wakhan Corridor of Afghanistan, and China’s Xinjiang Province, has indeed been a crucial factor in the region’s history. The British’s decision to lease the northern part of Gilgit during the pre-1947 period reflected their strategic considerations.
However, the developments of 1947, including the Gilgit Agency Mutiny, led to Gilgit-Baltistan becoming part of Pakistan. Since then, this region has been a central point of debate in the broader Kashmir issue.
The construction of the Karakoram Highway strengthened the connection between Pakistan and China, particularly with the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which is seen as a defining partnership in 21st century Asia.
In the context of the evolving geopolitical landscape and China’s presence in Gilgit-Baltistan, it’s crucial for India to reassess its position and pay careful attention to these developments. The region’s significance continues to evolve, and it remains a focal point in the broader geopolitical dynamics of South Asia.
Gilgit-Baltistan’s Rich Historical Heritage
Gilgit-Baltistan indeed has a rich historical heritage with deep-rooted connections to India, Jammu and Kashmir. According to a paper published by the Centre for Land Warfare studies (India and Gilgit Baltistan, insights into journey from historical Past to evolving present), the presence of temples like Ganpatyar, Shankaracharya, and Khir Bhavani in the Kashmir Valley reflects its historical ties. Additionally, Emperor Ashoka’s introduction of Buddhism in the 3rd century BC and the origin of the Mahayana School of Buddhism in Jammu and Kashmir are significant historical milestones. The reign of Emperor Kanishka in the 1st century AD marked the prominence of Buddhism in the region. The Golden Age of Kashmir under Emperor Lalitaditya and the zenith of Hindu Karkota Empire and Kashmiri Shaivism are also noteworthy. The gradual spread of Islam in the 14th century gave rise to a syncretic Sufi-Rishi tradition known as Kashmiriyat, influenced by figures like Sheikh Nuruddin Noorani, also known as Nund Rishi. This region’s history is indeed a fascinating blend of diverse cultural and spiritual influences.
Cultural, Anthropological and Sociological Linkages
Throughout history, all the regions of Jammu and Kashmir including Gilgit-Baltistan have been integral part of the Kashmir Empire and continued so until the Dogra Empire of the nineteenth and The twentieth century. As a matter of fact, Rinchan, the first Muslim King was a Prince Of Ladakh, who was rechristened as Sadruddin Shah on conversion to Islam and the Last major independent Muslim Dynasty that ruled Kashmir, The Chak Dynasty, had Migrated from Gilgit. These facts highlight close both inter and intra-regional, cultural, Social and political connections. Moreover, it goes to prove that the history of the Areas under present Pakistan Occupied Jammu and Kashmir including Gilgit-Baltistan have an umbilical connection to the history of Greater Jammu and Kashmir itself.5 With the ascension of Mughals, Kashmir became a province of Delhi Empire in 1540 AD and continued to be ruled by its Governors for the next three Centuries. It was followed by six decades of Afghan rule under the Durranis. This Region as a whole has evolved over the centuries with deep rooted cultural and historical.
India’s stance on Gilgit Baltistan is indeed rooted in the belief that its continued occupation is illegal. The Indian Parliament passed resolutions in 1994 asserting that both Gilgit Baltistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir are integral parts of the state of Jammu and Kashmir, thus forming an integral part of Indian territory. This stance has been a long-standing point of contention between India and Pakistan.
Additionally, India has expressed concerns about the growing China-Pakistan relations, particularly in the context of Gilgit-Baltistan. Pakistan ceded some parts of Gilgit-Baltistan to China in 1963, and this region has seen significant development projects, most notably the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). India views these projects as a challenge to its sovereignty and territorial integrity, which has further exacerbated tensions between India and both Pakistan and China. The CPEC, in particular, is a major source of concern in the Gilgit Baltistan issue due to its geopolitical implications in the region.
Now , Let’s discuss in detail my argument that Gilgit is an integral part of India. After independence, both India and Pakistan went for territorial consolidation. The Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir decided not to accede to either India or Pakistan. But, the situation soon changed as Pakistan invaded the princely state in October 1947.
HOW GILGIT FELL TO PAKISTAN
Pakistan captured a part of Kashmir by means of invasion and the entire Gilgit region – generally called Gilgit-Baltistan – by the treachery of a British military officer of the Maharaja. Under lease, Gilgit-Baltistan was protected by a British-controlled force called the Gilgit Scouts. After the British terminated the lease, they loaned two of their officers – Major W A Brown and Captain A S Mathieson – to the Maharaja for the purpose of looking after the defence of Gilgit-Baltistan till an alternative arrangement was found.
But as Maharaja Hari Singh signed the Instrument of Accession on October 31 in 1947, Major Brown revolted and captured King’s governor Brigadier Ghansara Singh. Major Brown then informed this former British boss stationed at Peshawar about his decision to accede to Pakistan.
Its present status, according to Insights on India,
1. The area is currently under the occupation of Pakistan, in violation of the United Nations Commission for India and Pakistan (UNCIP) resolution of 28 April 1949.
2. The occupation took place without the consent of the people of Gilgit-Baltistan and, despite the UNCIP’s calls for Pakistan to withdraw its forces from the disputed area, the occupation remains to this day.
3. For over 60 years now, the area of Gilgit-Baltistan has lacked a proper constitutional status, a working legal system and political autonomy.
The situation I describe in Pakistan, particularly in the region of Gilgit-Baltistan, is complex and multifaceted.
The calls for people to leave the nation may be related to historical and political factors:
Historical Context: Gilgit-Baltistan has a unique history, and its status has been a contentious issue between Pakistan and India for decades. It was a part of the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir, and its people have cultural and historical ties to the region of jammu kashmir India. Residents feel a sense of affinity with Kargil and India due to historical connections.
Political Unrest: The region has witnessed political unrest and dissatisfaction with Pakistan’s governance. There have been demands for greater autonomy and representation from the people of Gilgit-Baltistan. These demands often intersect with the broader political issues in the region.
The people of GB claim that Pakistan separated them from the freedom they enjoyed in Jammu & Kashmir to lock them up forever in a prison. The illegal occupation was not heroic, but just a political move to enjoy control of some of the world’s finest mineral and water resources. It was an act purely out of need, not sentiment for the Kashmiris. They are an integral part of India . But Pakistan illegally occupied Gilgit.
Conclusion
Our country India’s stand is very clear. India has always considered the occupation of Gilgit Baltistan as illegal and has never approved of it. The country has even raised its voice several times in the international community, taking a strong stance on this issue, whenever feasible. In 1994, the parliament of India passed a resolution claiming that both Gilgit Baltistan and Pakistan Occupied Kashmir, being a part of the state of Jammu and Kashmir, form an integral part of the territory of India.
The opinion of the people of Gilgit Baltistan has never been taken into consideration. They are protesting and want to join India should be given foremost importance. As is evident, the people of the region are not in favour of Pakistan. Therefore, their voice must be heard and not muzzled . Gilgit is an inalienable and integral part of India.