The painful cry of the people of Gilgit and Baltistan region, living under oppression of Pakistani rulers for past six decades is now ringing in political circles in the US. This is evident from the deliberations of a conference jointly organized by the Foundation for India and Indian Diaspora Studies; US India Political Action Committee and American Foreign Policy Council. BJP President Rajnath Singh, now on a four-day visit of the US and Senge Sering, president of the Institute of Gilgit Baltistan Studies, a Washington-based think tank, were among prominent speakers at the conference. The speakers focused on two vital themes, (a) violation of human rights of the people of the region, and (b) strategic importance of the region to regional and international security.
As regards massive violation of human rights of the people of Gilgit and Baltistan, one needs to recount the military rulers of Pakistan brazenly thrusting demographic change on the region. During his tenure as the Corps Commander of Northern Areas, General Musharraf engineered movement of large groups of Chitral, Swat, Kafiristan and adjoining areas to Gilgit with the purpose of reducing the traditional majority of local population. It also led to recurrent factional discord and disturbance thus paving the path for Pakistan military’s massive presence and interference in civilian administration. On political plane, the status of Gilgit and Baltistan has always remained murky. The attempt of Islamabad to integrate former Northern Areas into the State of Pakistan was foiled through a court injunction, which declared the areas as part of the original State of Jammu and Kashmir. Administration of the area is in the hands of Islamabad-based bureaucracy, and on local plane, the Punjabis of civilian cadres head administrative units. The locals even if qualified are denied the opportunity. The entire area is discriminated against in respect to higher education, health services, civilian amenities, and development of infrastructure, tourism and social integration. Political persecution is rampant and the chances of local population enjoying political freedom, freedom of expression and movement are stonewalled. Brute force is unleashed if the people of the region stage public protest against suppression of their rights. Leaders of various political groups are languishing in the jails.
Of late, Pakistan has been pursuing a policy of encouraging massive Chinese presence in the area facilitated by the building of Karakorum Highway. China intends to reach the enormous mineral resources in Afghanistan especially its copper mines by establishing overland contact through Wakhan for which her massive presence in Gilgit and Baltistan is a precursor. Reports are that China will be investing billions of dollars in connectivity projects that allow her access not only to Afghanistan but to Central Asia also. Pakistan has already illegally ceded five thousand square kilometers of Aksaichin of the original state of Jammu and Kashmir to China. China’s investment in the region is to connect Pakistani seaport of Gawadar on Makran cost with its eastern province of Xinjiang
In his speech Rajnath Singh has raised very important issue of India’s right to access to Afghanistan and Central Asia through Kargil – Askardu route in Gilgit – Baltistan region. This was an important artery of the historic Silk Route and India had been conducting trade with Central Asian region through this connectivity for thousands of years. In real terms it is India’s gateway to Central Asia. Pakistan illegally occupied Gilgit-Baltistan as a result of its incursion in 1947 and has not vacated ever since despite resolutions of the UN Security Council.
The US-led NATO troops will be withdrawing from Afghanistan. Stakeholders are contemplating a truce and an agreement of sorts that would ensure peace in the region and law and order in Afghanistan. India has justification to be a party to these negotiations because she has historical and factual interests in Afghanistan. She has invested billions of dollars in the development of infrastructure in Afghanistan. She has had historical links with that country and above all she has to have overland connectivity with Central Asia. The scenario that is developing in Gilgit-Baltistan region is going to usher in a drastic change in regional strategy. India cannot close her eyes to this change, which will put her at disadvantage.
It is good that various academic, intellectual and human rights organizations and personalities are raising the issue of regional security. International community needs to be sensitized to the issues of this crucial region and the activities of two countries namely China and Pakistan cannot be overlooked because these have wider implications on regional security, peace, law and order. The two countries seem to be engaged in re-interpreting the Great Game concept to suit their political, strategic and commercial interests at the cost of disrupting critical balance of power in the Asian Continent.
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