Recent developments from Pakistan have revealed that the Pakistani authorities are finalizing a law, the 26th Constitutional Amendment Bill, designed to award provisional provincial status to Gilgit-Baltistan, a region of significant strategic importance.
Understanding Gilgit-Baltistan
Gilgit-Baltistan is a disputed Indian territory. It occupies a high-altitude position on the northwestern corner of Ladakh, a Union Territory of India. The region stands strategically as it shares its borders with Pakistan, Afghanistan, and China.
The Historical Dispute Over Gilgit-Baltistan
The territorial claim over Gilgit-Baltistan traces back to the pre-independence days of India. The last Dogra ruler of Jammu & Kashmir, Maharaja Hari Singh, included this region as part of the princely state when he signed an Instrument of Accession to India on October 26, 1947. However, soon after, on November 4, 1947, Pakistan seized control over the region following an invasion by tribal militias and the Pakistani army. This act led India to raise the issue at the United Nations Security Council on January 1, 1948.
The Security Council responded with a resolution that demanded Pakistan vacate all of Jammu and Kashmir, to be followed by the reduction of Indian forces to a minimum level, and subsequently, a plebiscite to determine the will of the people. Despite this resolution, no withdrawal has been carried out, leaving the matter unresolved and contentious between the two countries.
Current Scenario of Gilgit-Baltistan
Presently, Gilgit-Baltistan functions as an autonomous region under the control of Pakistan. However, with the passage of the new bill, it will transform into the fifth province of the country, joining Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, and Sindh. The region has primarily been governed through executive orders until now.
The region was previously named the Northern Areas until 2009 when it was renamed as Gilgit-Baltistan under the Gilgit-Baltistan (Empowerment and Self-Governance) Order, 2009. This order also replaced the Northern Areas Legislative Council with the Legislative Assembly.
The Rationale Behind Granting Provincial Status to Gilgit-Baltistan
As the northernmost territory under Pakistan’s administration, Gilgit-Baltistan serves as the land route to China, making it the only territorial frontier Pakistan shares with its northeastern neighbor. What’s more, given the critical position of Gilgit-Baltistan in the USD 65 billion China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Infrastructure development plan, the region has become increasingly vital for both China and Pakistan.
CPEC is a flagship project linking Gwadar Port in Balochistan with China’s Xinjiang province and is part of China’s ambitious multi-billion-dollar Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Some India-Pakistan relations experts also suggest that Pakistan’s move to grant provincial status to Gilgit-Baltistan could be a reaction to India’s reassertion of its territorial claims after the August 5, 2019, reorganization of Jammu & Kashmir.
India’s Stand on the Issue
India staunchly maintains its stance that neither the Government of Pakistan nor its judiciary has any authority over territories that have been illegally and forcibly occupied. This extends to Gilgit and Baltistan, which India considers integral parts of the country by virtue of their legal and irrevocable accession. India has openly protested to China over the CPEC project due to its path through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
Source: TH
