The recent decision by Pakistan to elevate the status of Gilgit-Baltistan to that of a full-fledged province has stirred up significant discussion. This territory, which is disputed by India, will transition from its current autonomous status to become the fifth province of Pakistan, joining Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, and Sindh. This development has come about through a series of administrative and legislative decisions spread across several years.
Tracing the Path to Province Status: A Chronology
Several key milestones have marked the journey of Gilgit-Baltistan from disputed territory to proposed province. In 1999, Pakistan’s Supreme Court declared the people of Gilgit-Baltistan as Pakistani citizens and instructed the federal government to undertake appropriate measures. Ten years later in 2009, the Gilgit-Baltistan Empowerment and Self-Governance Order renamed the Northern Areas as Gilgit-Baltistan, provisionally recognising it as a province-like entity, albeit without Parliamentary representation.
In 2015, the federal government committee proposed bestowing provincial status on Gilgit-Baltistan. By 2018, an order had transferred all powers of the Gilgit-Baltistan council to its assembly. With this elevation, the province would gain adequate representation in all constitutional bodies, including the National Assembly and the Senate.
The Influence of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)
This development coincides with the progression of the Moqpondass Special Economic Zone (SEZ) under the auspices of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). SEZs are viewed as engines for economic growth, benefiting from quality infrastructure, attractive fiscal packages, and minimum regulations.
CPEC, the flagship project of China’s ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), aims to enhance connectivity throughout Pakistan via a network of highways, railways, and pipelines. The project, initially valued at USD 46 billion, had swelled to over USD 60 billion by 2017. Through CPEC, the western part of China, Xinjiang, gets linked to Gwadar Port located in Balochistan, Pakistan.
China’s Expanding Influence in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir
Other significant investments initiated by China in Pakistan-occupied territories of Kashmir under the CPEC project include the Diamer-Bhasha Dam, Kohala Hydropower Project, and Azad Pattan Hydel Power Project.
India’s Opposition to these Developments
India has consistently maintained that neither the Government of Pakistan nor its judiciary holds any legitimate authority over territories that are illegally and forcibly occupied by it. India unequivocally rejects such undertakings and ongoing attempts to effect changes in Pakistan-occupied regions of Indian Jammu and Kashmir. Consequently, India has consistently demanded that Pakistan vacate all areas under its illegal occupation. Additionally, India has raised strong objections with China over the CPEC as the corridor passes through the Pakistan-occupied territory in Kashmir.
This recent decision by Pakistan represents a significant development in the longstanding territorial dispute over Gilgit-Baltistan. How this decision impacts the dynamics of the region and its people remains to be seen.