Gilgit-Baltistan’s geopolitical significance is rooted in its complex history, marked by military campaigns, territorial disputes, and cultural legacies. India’s claim over the region is based on historical treaties, legal agreements, and constitutional provisions stemming from the Instrument of Accession signed by Maharaja Hari Singh of Jammu and Kashmir on October 26, 1947. This Accession, legally recognized by the Indian government, integrated Jammu and Kashmir, including Gilgit-Baltistan, into India. However, Pakistan’s occupation after the rebellion of the Gilgit Scouts and subsequent military campaigns has turned the region into a geopolitical flashpoint, further intensified by China’s involvement through the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
Operation Datta Khel: The Coup in Gilgit
Operation Datta Khel was a military coup executed in November 1947 by Major William Brown and the Gilgit Scouts. They overthrew the Dogra-appointed administration and secured Gilgit for Pakistan.
The Dogra rulers extended their territorial control through military campaigns led by General Zorawar Singh. Gilgit was crucial due to its location at the confluence of the British Indian Empire, Russian Central Asia, and Chinese Turkestan.The British feared Russian expansion toward the Indian subcontinent under the policy known as “The Great Game.”In response to Russian advances in Central Asia, the British established the Gilgit Agency in 1877, appointing a British Officer on Special Duty,a Political Agent to manage diplomatic and military affairs.However, the agency was disbanded in 1881. Amid renewed fears of Russian encroachment, the British re-established the Gilgit Agencywith a permanent British Political Agent in 1889. The British signed treaties with local rulers of Hunza and Nagar, making them British vassals while keeping formal ownership with the Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir. As tensions with Russia intensified, the British leased the Gilgit Wazarat from Maharaja Hari Singh for 60 years in 1935.This lease effectively placed the entire Gilgit region under British administrative control while technically keeping it part of Jammu and Kashmir.With the partition of India announced in 1947, the British relinquished control over the subcontinent, returning Gilgit to the Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir.
In late July 1947, the State government of Jammu and Kashmir appointed Brigadier Ghansar Singh as the Governor of Gilgit. He officially took over the administration from Lt.-Col. Bacon, the outgoing British Political Agent, on 1 August 1947. The Mirs of Hunza and Nagar, the subordinate chiefs under the Governor, displayed open hostility. This was adversity as nearly three-fourths of the Gilgit Scouts were recruited from these two regions.
As even after 15th August 1947, the army was not nationalized, the State retained the services of two British officers of the Gilgit Scouts, Major W.A. Brown and Captain Matheson, both of whom harbored deep-seated hostility toward Jammu and Kashmir. Their actions ultimately played a central role in orchestrating the pro-Pakistan coup in the Gilgit region. At the time, the 6th Jammu & Kashmir Infantry, commanded by Lt.-Col. Abdul Majid Khan, garrisoned the area with its headquarters at Bunji, approximately 54 kilometers from Gilgit along the road to Srinagar. The battalion was evenly composed of Muslims and Sikhs.
On the night of 31 October – 1 November 1947, around 100 men from the Gilgit Scouts, led by Major Brown, Lieutenant Haidar Khan, and Sub-Major Babar Khan, launched a surprise attack on the Governor’s residence. Their plan was to capture Brigadier Ghansar Singh while he slept. However, the Governor was awakened and, armed with a revolver, resisted the assault alongside his orderly and driver, who were equipped with a shotgun and a sporting rifle.
Under intense machine gun fire, the defenders held out until dawn, at which point Major Brown sent a message demanding Brigadier Ghansar Singh’s surrender, threatening to kill all non-Muslims in Gilgit if he refused. Realizing the futility of further resistance, the Governor surrendered and was placed under arrest.
Following this, the coup leaders swiftly moved to neutralize the Sikh troops stationed at Bunji. The entire Gilgit region effectively fell under Pakistani control by early November 1947. In the immediate aftermath, a Provisional Government was established, with leading roles played by Major Brown, Captain Hussan, Captain Ehsan Ali, Captain Muhammad Khan, Captain Sayeed, Lieutenant Haidar, and Sub-Major Babar Khan.
On 3 November 1947, Major Brown conducted a flag-hoisting ceremony at the Gilgit Scout Lines, formally marking the region’s separation from Jammu and Kashmir. About two weeks later, Sardar Mohammad Alam, a Pathan and Pakistan’s apparent nominee, arrived from Peshawar and assumed control as Political Agent at Gilgit.
This military coup secured strategic positions in the region, reinforcing Pakistan’s foothold and reshaping the geopolitical dynamics of South Asia in the wake of Partition.
The Siege of Skardu: A Prolonged Battle
Following the success in Gilgit, Pakistani forces, including local militias and the Gilgit Scouts, set their sights on Baltistan linked with the Ladakh. Skardu, a critical administrative and military center in the heart of Baltistan, became the next strategic target due to its control over routes to Ladakh, Gilgit, and the Karakoram Pass.
The siege began in December 1947, with Skardu defended by approximately 300 Dogra soldiers led by Colonel Sher Jung Thapa. Despite being vastly outnumbered, Thapa’s forces held their ground for over six months under harsh weather, starvation, and relentless attacks. Pakistani forces laid a brutal siege, cutting off supply lines from Srinagar and Leh.
On August 14, 1948, after an intense final assault, Skardu fell. Colonel Thapa and his men were captured. This decisive victory allowed Pakistan to consolidate its control over Baltistan.
The war ended with a UN-brokered ceasefire in January 1949, establishing a ceasefire line that became the Line of Control (LoC) after the Simla Agreement of 1972. Baltistan remained under Pakistani administration as part of what later became known as the Northern Areas. Gilgit-Baltistan continues to be a contested region, with India asserting its claim based on the Instrument of Accession. Pakistan administers it with limited autonomy granted through the Gilgit-Baltistan Empowerment and Self-Governance Order, 2009. The unresolved constitutional status of the region remains a critical point of contention in South Asian geopolitics, influenced further by China’s strategic interests through CPEC.
Nestled among the Karakoram, Himalayas, and Hindu Kush ranges, Gilgit-Baltistan is renowned for its towering peaks, including K2, Nanga Parbat, and Rakaposhi, along with vast glaciers like Baltoro. The region’s dramatic landscapes, ancient rock carvings, and cultural sites such as the Kargah Buddha, Shigar Fort, and Khaplu Palace reflect its rich historical legacy.
The ethnically diverse population includes Baltis, Shins, Yashkuns, and Wakhis, speaking languages like Balti, Shina, Burushaski, Wakhi, and Urdu. Shared cultural roots with Ladakh, influenced by Tibetan Buddhism and Islam, persist despite the political divide.
Understanding the historical events that shaped Gilgit-Baltistan is crucial for comprehending the complex political dynamics of South Asia. The region’s history is not merely a narrative of territorial disputes but a reflection of deep-rooted political struggles, colonial legacies, and evolving geopolitical interests. The stories of Operation Datta Khel and the Siege of Skardu highlight how military maneuvers and strategic coups played decisive roles in determining the current boundaries and political affiliations in the region.
The region’s unique position, bordering China, Afghanistan, and India, makes it a critical geopolitical pivot in South Asian politics. Moreover, China’s involvement through the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has added a new dimension to the conflict, making the region a focal point of global strategic interests.
By delving into the historical context of Gilgit-Baltistan, one can better understand how unresolved historical disputes have perpetuated hostilities between India and Pakistan. Understanding the historical processes that shaped Gilgit-Baltistan helps explain the persistent mistrust, recurring military clashes, and diplomatic challenges between these two nuclear-armed neighbors. In a world where history often dictates political realities, studying the events that shaped Gilgit-Baltistan is vital for anyone seeking to grasp the complexities of South Asian geopolitics and the broader implications for global peace and security.
Acknowledgement: The information has been gathered from the book Operations in Jammu & Kashmir (1947-1948 )- Ministry of Defence, Government of India.
(The author is Assistant Professor, Central University of Jammu)
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