India’s border dispute (Part III)

Gilgit-Baltistan (Northern Areas)

Pakistan is selling the hopes and rights of people of Gilgit-Baltistan to China

Gilgit–Baltistan is the Pakistan occupied Indian territory of North-western Kashmir, which was earlier called Northern Areas. A portion of it has been already sold to China in 60s; the remaining large area is being leased to China for a period of 50 years in return for military assistance. The Pakistan’s move is aimed at strengthening its strategic relationship with China amid the irreparable rupture in US-Pakistan relations over the past year. 

All this is happening without any consultation or consent of the locals. Pakistan never gave the status of statehood to the Gilgit-Baltistan; as a result they have no representation in Pakistan parliament. Pakistan does collect some taxes from this financially backward region but never spends a single penny in return in the development of this area. Till today it does not even have a degree college or a full fledged hospital.

It is interesting to note that this region is pre-dominantly Shia, whereas Pakistan is dominantly Sunni. The world knows the relationship between Shia’s and Sunni’s. Iran – Iraq fought 10 year long war on these lines. Geographically Iran is not very far from this region. It is matter of constant worry for Pakistan on the growing Iranian influence in the region, which is also geographically not very far from this region. On top of that the growing demand by India to return it’s lawful land especially the growing world consensus in it’s favor is giving sleepless night to the Pak policy makers including the military establishment.

Gilgit-Baltistan region is facing continuous human rights violations at the behest of the ISI and Pakistan authorities. During the last one year thousands of people from the minority Shia community had been either kidnapped or killed in cold blood. All possible forms of repression are being used. With the recent development of handing over the ancestral land to China would be a gross injustice of magnanimous proportions to the people of Gilgit-Baltistan. All these while Pakistan has been treating them badly, now they would be simply butchered or made bonded slaves and moved out to various industrial belts in mainland China forcefully. Mass migration would happen from mainland China like the invasion of Tibet. Complete demographic balance would be disturbed. In 10 years there would be only chinese speaking people left in the region.

Historically Kashmir has been always territorial part of India. In recent past King of Kashmir voluntarily acceded to the Union of India in 1947 which included the territory of POK (Pakistan Occupied Kashmir) and Gilgit-Baltistan. But soon after it was captured by Pakistan through treacherous move and due to UN forced ceasefire these territories could not be merged back to its original territory in India. The massacre of innocent civilians in Skardu by the Pak army would always be a shameful chapter in the history of Pakistan. India affectionately still shows this region as part of their country and has been constantly trying to resolve this issue with Pakistan through diplomatic measures. But Pakistan with the indulgence of China is no mood to even discuss about it. Pakistan in fact has a dream of capturing the whole of capturing Kashmir, as a result it fought three battles with India in last seven decades losing all of them and forcing the nation into deeper crisis each time.

In recent years the Chinese had been showing extreme interest to have this territory. It is a easy task to lure Pakistan establishment. Thus China has managed to get an approval of a very long term (50 Years) lease of this territory.  This area is of strategic importance to China. It intends to build it’s military base here especially for two reasons:

-          Open up a land based trading routes to Iran and the Central Asian countries.

-          Quell the birthplace of Xinjiang pro democratic movements (FATA and Gilgit-Baltistan)

Pakistan has been hoping for a long time to develop the Balooch port of Gwadar to become a Naval Base to counter Indian presence and stronghold in the Indian Ocean. China took this opportunity to  build a railroad from Gwadar and connect it with Tibetan Railway. China has also built permanent military barracks for stationing the troops for long time.  

The port is strategically located near the Straits of Hormuz and is vital for China to access the sea for its western provinces. Given is proximity to Iran, the US & India also sees establishment of a naval command in Gwadar as a cause for potential instability in the region. This region is an important link in China’s String of Pearls strategy to gain supremacy in the Indian ocean region thereby containing India. 

But the Balooch nationalists are opposed to the development of the port town as they see it as an attempt by the Pakistan Government to marginalize the local Balooch population. This has given rise to a deadly insurgency in the region with violence being perpetrated by Balooch nationalists, and reprisal abductions and killings by the Pakistani forces.

Since last couple of years China has slowed down it's Gwadar project and focused more on heavily militarizing  Gilgit-Baltistan region region, causing an unnecessary conflict zone in otherwise peaceful territory. India has been protesting this in UN for last couple of years. Dr. Shabir Choudhry, an independent researcher, who led a team of researchers to Gilgit-Baltistan in October 2010. Following his research in Gilgit-Baltistan and Pakistan Occupied Kashmir, Dr. Shabir Choudhry delivered a series of lectures in the UK, addressing the implications of China's increasing presence in Gilgit-Baltistan and Pakistani Kashmir, and warning of the likelihood that the region could emerge as a battleground for military confrontation between China and Pakistan on one side and India and the United States on the other.

Chinese Premier Hu Jintao’s gave the following statement on 6^th Dec 2011(In the context of setting up of naval base in Seychelles) - “China is undergoing extended preparations for warfare in order to make greater contributions to safeguard national security”. This further confirms the intentions of China.

Recently the Pakistan Northern Light Infantry (NLI) and People’s Liberation Army (PLA) signed an agreement which has dangerous implications in the peace and balance of the region. China has pushed Pakistan to the extent where Pakistan has to transfer the territory of Gilgit-Baltistan to China unconditionally. It is a matter of great concern for the peace loving people of this region and their fate. Right from India, Afghanistan, NATO establishment in Afghanistan, Iran all are equally threatened. This is a paradigm shift in Pakistan’s foreign policy of leaving a long time ally of US and joining hands with China, even at loss of their territorial sovereignty.

Baroness Emma Nicholson, a member of the European Union Parliament, was deputed to prepare a report on Kashmir. She visited Gilgit-Baltistan and Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir.  In her report she categorically praised the functioning of democracy in Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir, criticized its total absence in Gilgit-Baltistan. Pakistan tried to scuttle this report but the European Parliament passed it by over 400 votes, with only nine votes against it.

The world community especially the United Nation needs to intervene and take steps so that a disaster in making can be stopped. Atleast this region could become United Nations administered territory.

References:

1. Pakistan's Deteriorating Situation, Strained Relations with America: Deliberation on Leasing Gilgit-Baltistan to China for 50 years – A report published in the Urdu-language daily Roznama Bang-e-Sahar, a Gilgit-Baltistan daily on December 13, 2011.

2. An estimated 7,000 to 11,000 soldiers of the People’s Liberation Army in Gilgit-Baltistan - A report in The New York Times, August 2010

3. Monsoon: The Indian Ocean and the Future of American Power by Robert Kaplan