Gilgit-Baltistan: A hopeless and deprived region in Pakistan

In December 2022, the Pakistani government appropriated commercial land in Gilgit-Baltistan. It claimed that the land belongs not to those whose families have lived on it for generations. The land belongs to the Pakistani government. It is the latest in a long series of abuses against the GB people, who first came under Pakistani rule in 1949. People fought against the Dogra (Kashmiri Maharajas) government and declared independence in 1949. Being a Muslim-majority region, the people preferred to join Pakistan. China, Pakistan, the United Nations, and India have considered GB a disputed territory. The state of Pakistan runs GB’s political and administrative affairs. In 2009, GB got a provincial assembly with some political power. Riots recently erupted. The state of Pakistan tried to demolish the property and appropriated people's land. The region's inhabitants have demonstrated their anger over the forced appropriation of land.

Since 1949, Pakistan has been forcibly acquiring land in Gilgit-Baltistan without sufficient legal and constitutional protections for the people's rights. Recently, people from various regions, political orientations, and faiths have come together to denounce land rights, high taxes, frequent power outages, and subsidized wheat provided by the Pakistani government. Chanting slogans such as "no taxation without representation," "we want political representation," and "a share in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor," they demand justice and representation.

Pakistan's Army exercises control over people's political, economic, and social lives through coercion, resorting to incentives and punishments. The state systematically suppresses and victimizes people in the GB region, disallowing them from mobilizing for their rights. The state responds to demands for recognition and protection of these rights by instigating sectarian violence, which has caused significant damage to the region's social and cultural fabric. The Pakistani state's malicious interests have destroyed the socioeconomic and cultural prosperity of the people.

Gilgit-Baltistan is rich in natural resources and has the potential to generate up to 40,000 MW of electricity, resolving the country's chronic energy crisis and saving billions of dollars in oil imports. Moreover, with its proximity to China, India, and Central Asian countries, it has geostrategic importance. GB is the gateway to the multibillion-dollar CPEC project. The region is home to some of the world's highest mountains, including K2. The region is enriched with minerals like gems and herbs. The natural ecology of the area attracts thousands of tourists each year. Despite the numerous benefits of the region, Gilgit-Baltistan lacks access to the necessities due to the growing control of the Pakistani state. While provinces in Pakistan can collect taxes, legislate, and exercise executive power, GB remains under the control of the military, politicians, and bureaucracy, leading to top-down decision-making.

The Indian media fuels anti-Pakistan sentiment among GB citizens, exacerbating tensions between the two countries. Meanwhile, the Pakistani mainstream media remains silent on the problems. As a result of the ongoing tug-of-war between China, India, and Pakistan, the people of Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan continue to suffer. Unfortunately, international organizations and governments are either swayed by lobbying groups or lack the moral courage to speak out against the atrocities and oppression in the region.

The socioeconomic development of Gilgit-Baltistan is severely lacking, and many people live in extreme poverty. The state of Pakistan bears responsibility for the current situation in the region, as the lack of individual rights and self-determination has prevented GB from collecting revenue, legislating laws, and executing affairs. Rights are fundamental to the progress of any society as they allow people to lead the way in social, economic, and political development.

Safeguarding rights empowers people to determine their future and develop solutions to their problems. Without these protections, people become vulnerable to exploitation. The exploitation of Gilgit-Baltistan would not have been possible if the people had had adequate protection for their rights and self-determination. The people of GB are demanding political, legal, and constitutional rights. India made India-occupied Kashmir a legal territory of India by abolishing Article 370. The people of GB neither enjoy a special status nor have constitutional representation. The state sponsor sectarian violence, violation of rights, and underdevelopment will be a concern for South Asia in the future. The international community must strive to address child play in the region for a sustainable future.