Title: Gilgit–Baltistan: The Roots of Political Alienation
Abstract: Abstract Gilgit–Baltistan in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir has witnessed a series of political disturbances and violence over the past years. Though many analysts have viewed the often-violent assertions by otherwise peaceful residents of this remote and mountainous region as occasional eruptions of the Shia–Sunni sectarian divide, a careful examination will indicate the deeper roots of alienation of the population in this long-neglected region. Almost total absence of democratic rights, lack of participation in the government and economic exploitation of the region coupled with ethnic, cultural and linguistic marginalisation appear to be the main factors that have led to this alienation. Alok Bansal is Research Fellow at IDSA. Notes 1 ‘Constitutional Package for N. Areas’, Dawn, October 24, 2007, p. 1. 2 Recently spokesperson of Balwaristan National Front, Shafqat Inqalabi, in an interview with the author claimed that the residents of the region wanted the Government of India to allow them to send their representatives to the Indian Parliament as well as the Jammu & Kashmir Legislative Assembly. 3 Brian Cloughley, A History of the Pakistani Army, Lancer Publishers & Distributors, New Delhi, 1999, p. 19. 4 As the region is technically not considered part of Pakistan but a part of the former princely state of Jammu & Kashmir, whose final status according to Pakistan is yet to be determined, it does not find mention in Pakistani Constitution and does not elect representatives for Pakistani Parliament. See also executive summary of ‘Discord in Pakistan's Northern Areas’, ICG Asia Report, 131, April 2, 2007. 5 Statistical details have been taken from Europa Publications, South Asia 2005, 2nd ed. 6 Chitral incidentally was under the suzerainty of Kashmir State like other vassal states in the Northern Areas like Hunza and Nagar. It has close historical and cultural links with the region and should ideally have been a part of the Northern Areas. Its status has clearly been highlighted by Amar Singh Chohan in his book The Gilgit Agency 1877–1935, published by Atlantic Publishers and Distributors, New Delhi, p. 209. 7 Stephen Philip Cohen, The Idea of Pakistan, Oxford University Press, New Delhi, 2005, p. 222. 8 ‘Story of Gilgit Deaths Foretold’, Editorial, Daily Times, January 10, 2005. 9 Khaled Ahmed, Pakistan: The State in Crisis, Vanguard Books, Lahore, 2002, p. 38. 10 Adrian Levy and Catherine Scott-Clark, Deception: Pakistan, the United States and the Global Nuclear Weapons Conspiracy, Penguin Books, New Delhi, 2007, pp. 239–240. 11 ‘Security Alert in Pakistan Town’, March 8, 2005, at http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4328789.stm (Accessed August 23, 2007). 12 Alok Bansal, ‘Riots in PoK’, Central Chronicle, Bhopal, February 10, 2005, p. 7. 13 Khaled Ahmed, ‘The Trouble in Gilgit’, The Friday Times, July 8–14, 2005, p. 8. 14 Amjad Bashir Siddiqi, ‘Police, DMG Officers Refuse to Join Duty in Gilgit’, The News, Internet Edition, May 1, 2005. 15 ‘Violence in Gilgit’, Editorial, Dawn, Karachi, July 25, 2005, p. 7. 16 ‘Northern Areas: A Tale of Neglect, Denial?’, at http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IEP20060529092431&Page=P&Title=Nation&Topic=0 (Accessed May 30, 2006). 17 Gulmina Bilal, ‘While Gilgit Burns…’, The News, Internet Edition, November 22, 2005. 18 Ibrahim Shahid, ‘Basha Dam May Leave Northern Areas High and Dry’, at http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2006%5C02%5C21%5Cstory_21-2-2006_pg7_36 (Accessed March 1, 2006). 19 No. 4, p. 11. 20 P. Stobdan, ‘Gilgit and Balltistan: The Historical Dimension’, in Virendra Gupta and Alok Bansal (ed.), Pakistan Occupied Kashmir: The Untold Story, Manas Publications, New Delhi, 2007, p. 45. 21 M. Ismail Khan, ‘Kashmir's Scapegoats’, The News, Internet Edition, June 25, 2005. 22 M. Ismail Khan, ‘Northern Areas and the Charter’, The News, Internet Edition, May 28, 2006. 23 Amjad Bashir Siddiqi, ‘Conflict in Gilgit’, The News, Internet Edition, November 14, 2005. 24 M. Ismail Khan, no. 22. 25 No. 4, p. 12. 26 Alok Bansal, ‘Rumblings in the Northern Areas’, Strategic Analysis, 29(1), January–March 2005, p. 150. 27 Afzal A. Shigri, ‘Kashmir dispute and Status of Northern Areas’, The News, Internet Edition, December 8, 2005. 28 Ershad Mahmud, ‘Challenges before the New Government in NAs’, The News, Internet Edition, December 11, 2004. 29 M. Ismail Khan, no. 21. 30 Farman Ali, ‘Gilgit-Based Magazine Banned for Anti-Musharraf Stance’, The Herald, December 2004, p. 44. 31 Dawn, May 29, 1999. 32 M. Ismail Khan, ‘The Northern Areas’ Dangerous Limbo', The News, Internet Edition, September 27, 2005. 33 Afzal A. Shigri, no. 27. 34 Zaigham Khan, ‘Gilgit on Fire’, The News, Internet Edition, January 15, 2005. 35 Ershad Mahmud, no. 28. 36 ‘The State of Sectarianism in Pakistan’, International Crisis Group Asia Report No. 95, April 18, 2005, p. 12. 37 Samuel Baid, ‘Suppression of Gilgit-Baltistan’, in Virendra Gupta and Alok Bansal (ed.), Pakistan Occupied Kashmir: The Untold Story, no. 20, p. 145. 38 Samuel Baid, ‘Northern Areas’, in Jasjit Singh (ed.), Pakistan Occupied Kashmir: Under the Jackboot, Siddhi Books, New Delhi, 1995, p. 139. 39 Alok Bansal, ‘Karakoram in Turmoil’, at http://www.ipcs.org/whatsNewArticle11.jsp?action=showView&kValue=1828&status=article&mod=b (Accessed August 31, 2005). 40 M. Ismail Khan, ‘Demystifying Kashmir’, The News, Internet Edition, January 23, 2006. 41 Sarmad Abbas and Imtiaz Ali Taj, ‘Brothers with Arms’, The Herald, April 2005, p. 63. 42 Amjad Bashir Siddiqi, no. 23. 43 Ibid. 44 Samuel Baid, no. 37, p. 149. 45 ‘The Problem of the Northern Areas’, at http://www.jammu-kashmir.com/insights/insight20010101a.html (Accessed December 18, 2007). 46 B Raman, ‘Biography of General Pervez Musharraf: His Past and Present,’ at http://www.angelfire.com/al4/terror/musharraf.htm (Accessed June 26, 2006). 47 No. 4, p. 11. 48 Amjad Bashir Siddiqi, no. 23. 49 Ershad Mahmud, no. 28. 50 ‘No Employee from NAs in the Ministry’, Daily Times, April 17, 2005, at http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2006%5C04%5C17%5Cstory_17-4-2006_pg7_43 (Accessed April 20, 2006). 51 Amjad Bashir Siddiqi, no. 23. 52 M. Ismail Khan, no. 21. 53 Amjad Bashir Siddiqi, no. 23. 54 Ibid. 55 Ibid. 56 ‘India Needs to Refocus Attention on Gilgit, Baltistan Routes’, Deccan Herald, Bangalore, January 22, 2006, p. 12. 57 Amjad Bashir Siddiqi, no. 23. 58 Ibid. 59 Aabha Dixit, ‘Ethnicity and Human Rights’, in Jasjit Singh (ed.), Pakistan Occupied Kashmir: Under the Jackboot, no. 38, pp. 197–198. 60 Ibrahim Shahid, no. 18. 61 Aabha Dixit, no. 59, p. 204. 62 M. Ismail Khan, no. 21. 63 Aabha Dixit, no. 59, p. 204. 64 Ershad Mahmud, no. 28. 65 M. Ismail Khan, ‘Avoiding the Highway of Death’, The News, Internet Edition, May 5, 2005. 66 Ershad Mahmud, no. 28. 67 Farman Ali, ‘Gilgit–Baltistan Residents Request Border Crossings at Skardu’, The Herald, April 2005, p. 50. 68 Ershad Mahmud, no. 28. 69 ‘Bringing Peace to Gilgit’, Editorial, Dawn, Karachi, January 3, 2006, p. 7. 70 Aabha Dixit, no. 59, p. 201. 71 Abubaker Saddique, ‘Paradise Lost’, Newsline, Karachi, February 2005, p. 49. 72 M. Ismail Khan, no. 65. 73 Tarik Ali Khan, ‘Renaissance and Resistance in Baltistan’, at http://www.balawaristan.net/BaltiHISTORY.html (Accessed July 4, 2006). 74 Ibid. 75 M. Ismail Khan, ‘Roads to Peace’, The News, Internet Edition, June 30, 2005. 76 ‘India's New Assertiveness on POK Is Thanks to Its Peace Offensive with Pakistan’, Indian Express, Internet Edition, June 15, 2006.
Publication Year: 2008
Publication Date: 2008-02-27
Language: en
Type: article
Indexed In: ['crossref']
Access and Citation
Cited By Count: 18
AI Researcher Chatbot
Get quick answers to your questions about the article from our AI researcher chatbot