Pakistan Occupied Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan

By Col Jaibans Singh

16 Nov , 2015

“And that is my definition of democracy, the right to be in a minority and not be suppressed.” —Lee Harvey Oswald

After more than six decades of independence, there are a million plus citizens of India who are languishing under foreign occupation, being suppressed, humiliated and exploited by mercenary forces for economic gains. This statement may come across as ludicrous to all those who are unaware about the state of affairs in PoK and Gilgit-Baltistan regions of J&K. These areas were a part of the princely state of J&K at the time when the erstwhile Maharaja of J&K signed the instrument of accession. Due to some misplaced ideals of the then Indian leadership, the region was not liberated by the Indian forces during the Indo-Pakistan War of 1947-48. Intervention by the UN led to a ceasefire and a huge mass of land was forcibly occupied by Pakistan.

Ever since, this area has been ruled by Islamabad despite the fact that it is not constitutionally integrated with Pakistan and its people do not have representation in the National Legislature. Having received this bonanza without effort Pakistan set about misusing it as a tool to further its political, economic and strategic objectives; as time passed the covetous Punjabis of Pakistan realised the immense economic potential of the region and let loose massive exploitation to gain control of all assets. Governments and political dispensations in Pakistan changed over time but the policy towards this unfortunate region remained unchanged.

Gilgit-Baltistan

Gilgit-Baltisan is completely under the control of the Government of Pakistan. This area swarms with soldiers of the Pakistani and Chinese armies who are the unquestionable masters of their domain. No civilian has the right to even protest, in person or through the media, against their presence much less question their activities and atrocities. There are no independent human rights agencies, no independent media; the concept of freedom of expression is unheard of. The resources of this region are mercilessly looted, its benefits accrue to people who do not ethnically belong to this region while the ethnic population looks on as mute spectators; in case they open their mouths they are simply killed in cold blood and not an eyebrow is raised.

In the last 64 years, no less than 11 political systems have been experimented upon the hapless people. The Government of Pakistan through the enactment of the Gilgit-Baltistan (Empowerment and Self Governance) Order 2009 of August, 29, 2011, designated the region as an integral province of Pakistan. In accordance with this legislation, the Governor of the newly constituted province will head a 12-member council with 50 per cent members from the assembly and the remaining 50 per cent appointed by the Governor himself. This caveat, by itself, reduces the position of the chief minister to that of a dummy. No wonder, when the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) came into power there was a mad rush for the post of the Governor in Gilgit-Baltistan with no less than eight contenders in cut throat competition. The legislative assembly will have no control over defence and treasury. This devolution, which is the result of a protracted political movement of the people of this beleaguered region, clearly falls short of their justified aspirations and is being vigorously contested.

Even as both the Pakistani political leadership and army continue with their mischievous machinations the plight of the people is going from bad to worse. The region, which is supplying electricity to both Pakistan and China, has 14 to 16 hours outages on a regular basis because defective transformers cannot be replaced due to lack of funds. The area is rich in minerals, yet, the locals are banned from mining; the right has been given to neighbouring provinces and to the Chinese.

Lakhs of ethnic educated people are jobless and yet the people are not getting adequate government employment; there is not a single local Judge in the entire province. In case they look for a government job, they have to pledge to eschew all political activity that may be inimical to the interests of the State of Pakistan. In plain words livelihood is available to them only in exchange for their freedom of expression and their right to protest. On the other hand, Pakistani government officials posted to the area draw double salary. The few local government employees do not get salaries for months on end.

Natural disaster like floods and earthquakes add to the misery of the people. Schools, hospitals and other infrastructure damaged due to natural calamities are not repaired for years. Dilapidated poultry farms are being used as schools. No compensation is paid to people who lose their homes and belongings in such calamities. No subsidy is given to tide over bad times.

This region has also been subjected to ethnic cleansing, the Shia Muslim population that forms the ethnic stock is being mercilessly killed. The worst atrocities were committed by Pervez Musharraf when he was posted in the region as a Brigadier. His activities earned him the sobriquet of Butcher of Baltistan.

The locals of this region virtually live in the stone-age, bereft of economic development and basic human rights. The people are raising their voice against this blatant oppression. Spontaneous mass uprising with thousands, sometimes lakhs of people taking to the streets is a common occurrence. Sadly, with a total population of about 1.4 million these poor impoverished people cannot stand against the combined might of the Pakistan and Chinese establishments. The police and the army do not hesitate from opening direct fire on demonstrators; there have been instances where entire villages have been detained; sedition charges are slapped against local leaders with impunity. The charade of the Islamic State of Pakistan has been further exposed by the open massacre of innocent civilian in the region. The region’s ethnic population has been reduced to slavery.

On February, 28, 2012 and then on April, 3, 2012, terrorists attacked buses loaded with people from Gilgit-Baltistan and slaughtered more than 100 Shias. The unfortunate incidents occurred in broad daylight on the Karakoram Highway (KKH), which is dotted with police and military check posts. Eyewitnesses claim that police provided weapons to the assailants, who numbered in thousands. Following the Shia massacre, an indefinite curfew was imposed in Gilgit-Baltistan causing food and medicine shortages. On many occasions, the region is cut off from the rest of the world as traffic on KKH, the sole road linking Gilgit-Baltistan with Pakistan, remains unsafe and disrupted and air travel is cost prohibitive for the vast majority. After the death of more than 300 people, Imran Khan, the Pakistani cricketer turned politician who is the chief of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party that is presently ruling Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the province adjoining Gilgit-Baltistan said, “Failure to keep peace in a sensitive area like Gilgit-Baltistan is entirely because of incompetence and corruption of the government.” This is too little, too late for a massacre that is still going on.

Their only hope lies in the expatriates who are voicing their concerns across the world. On April 14, 2012, hundreds of Shias from all over the United States gathered in front of the Embassy of Pakistan to protest against Shia and minority killings in Pakistan. Members and supporters of Gilgit-Baltistan National Congress also joined the protesters. Malika Baltistani, the chairperson of Gilgit-Baltistan National Alliance delivered a speech about the rights of the people of Gilgit-Baltistan and condemned the Pakistani government for patronising terrorists. She lamented that even though Gilgit-Baltistan provides water, minerals and a safe route for Pakistan to China, yet, the native Shias are treated like captives. She said that Pakistan is pursuing the age-old Umayyad and Abbasid policy of Shia persecution. She said, “We are rebels and not traitors and Pakistani policies of alienation are responsible for this.” In a press note the president of Gilgit-Baltistan National Congress, Imtiaz Hussain, stated that the UN universal declaration on human rights guarantees freedom of religious practice and expression as a birth right. However, the natives of Pakistan controlled Gilgit-Baltistan have failed to attain their basic rights in the last six decades.

Gilgit-Baltistan is an UN-declared disputed area and remains outside the constitutional jurisdiction of Pakistan. Several resolutions passed by both UN Security Council and UN Commission on India and Pakistan (UNCIP) have asked Pakistan to guarantee genuine autonomy to the region which would ensure political, judicial and socio-economic rights; all of them have been ignored by the Pakistan government with utmost contempt. Islamabad’s failures have caused an irreparable damage to the social fabric of the region, today, the urban parts of Gilgit-Baltistan present the picture of a war zone where natives live with fear and deprivation.

Yet another matter of great concern has been raised by a report titled “Pakistan’s Deteriorating Situation, Strained Relations with America: Deliberation on Leasing Gilgit-Baltistan to China for 50 years,” published in a local Urdu newspaper of Gilgit-Baltistan, Roznama Bang-e-Sahar. It is being contended that Pakistan is poised to handover the region to China on lease for 50 years due to certain strategic and economic considerations. The move has the complete support of the Pakistan army. It goes without saying that such a development will spell disaster for the people of the region

Gilgit-Baltistan National Congress, after its protest in United States, has made some demands. These include, respect for UN resolutions and reinstatement of State Subject Rule; assured protection to local languages and religions; resumption of trade and travel over Astore-Srinagar, Chorbat-Nubra, Marol-Khaltse, Drass-Gultari and Olding-Kargil roads to ensure travel safety on alternate routes; withdrawal of paramilitary from urban areas of Gilgit-Baltistan and strengthening of local police; neutralisation of all militant hideouts and launch pads from Gilgit-Baltistan into Kashmir; arrest and prosecution of militants and military personnel involved in Shia killings; control over natural resources and trade routes by the Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly; abolishment of the Gilgit-Baltistan Council and Ministry of Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan Affairs to ensure genuine autonomy as recommended by the UN.

Diamer-Bhasha Dam: A symbol of exploitation

Stuck with a power situation that is getting worse by the day and a public impatient to see him fulfil his poll promise, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is getting impatient. He has launched an all out campaign for generation of more power. Prominent on his ‘to do’ list is revival of the mammoth Diamer-Bhasha Dam project. There is ample reason for his eagerness to get the project moving. The dam on the River Indus to be situated near a place called “Bhasha” in Gilgit-Baltistan’s Diamer district, promises 4,500 MW of electricity and 8.5 million acres feet of water that can be channelised for irrigation.

In January 2006, the Government of Pakistan announced construction of the Diamer-Bhasha Dam with an astounding price tag of over US $ 8.5 billion. The World Bank, however, linked construction of the Dam to a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from India since the area is under dispute between the two countries. Pakistan knew that no such certificate would be forthcoming.

There is huge public protest against the project for which there is ample reason since the villages and farms of over 35,000 people will disappear should the project see the light of day. The affected people are demanding a compensation package of Rs. 300,000/- per household, a separate area in Islamabad for resettlement, a share of the royalties and resolution of the border dispute between Gilgit-Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The previous government was nowhere near meeting these demands.

The inhabitants of the area, exploited and subjugated by Pakistan at the best of times, are absolutely certain of getting a raw deal from the entire process. The locals say openly that the construction would generate power for the rulers and leave the region in darkness. There has been wave after wave of protests to the extent that in February, 2010, Police resorted to firing on protesters in which two persons died.

Then there are other issues involved; the project is to be located in a mountainous, earthquake-prone area. There are historically significant rock carvings on both sides of River Indus near Chilas that date back to prehistoric times; the most recent ones testify the Islamisation of the region in the 14th century. Tens of thousands of these thousands of years old rock carvings will vanish.

Another important point that needs emphasis is that the project, after an eight-year construction period, would provide only 4500 MW of electricity for the national grid. This is not enough to address the requirement of half of Pakistan’s population (around 80 million people) that has no access to power at all. A costly project like Diamer-Bhasha can only benefit industries and wealthy Pakistanis. The lives of the common people in the 40,000 villages in Pakistan will not change.

Pakistan’s occupation of Gilgit-Baltistan is illegal and forceful. Nevertheless, the question of political status can be dealt with separately. The most important and immediate requirement is to ensure that the people can lead a normal, dignified life. Pressure has to be built on Pakistan to cease its blatant exploitation of the region and also put a lid on China’s greedy ambitions. Pakistan has to be prevailed upon to restore political rights of the people, release all political prisoners, grant freedom of press and create local autonomous governing bodies. Restoration of people to people ties in the contiguous regions of Ladakh and Kargil and opening of trade and transit routes also needs to be pushed.

Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK)

On the other side of the LoC between India and Pakistan there lies the other J&K, PoK, which is falsely and ironically called “Azad (Independent) Kashmir” by Pakistan, despite an international understanding that the same is under dispute between India and Pakistan. Since 1948, it has since been ruled through proxy by the Government of Pakistan, its lent officers and its secret agencies.

In PoK, every action of the civilians is scrutinised by the hawk-eyed army and the all powerful Inter Services Intelligence (ISI). This is because the entire administration is in the hands of the Pakistan army. The army runs the schools, the water department, the power stations, and the transport. Mohammed Mumtaz Khan, a senior leader from Rawalakote has gone on record to state, “Pakistani army is using PoK as a training camp for terrorists, as for development, the area lags behind J&K by ages, where development had moved at almost the same pace as that of other cities in India.” In PoK, no freedom is granted to the media, in fact there is no media at all. Whatever public opinion is there gets squashed immediately. There is no way you can go out and hold a protest march since an action of this nature invites retaliation with firing by troops

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has opined that people in PoK have suffered gross violations of their rights, from being continuously ‘watched and monitored’ by Pakistan’s ISI to denial of basic fundamental rights including access to judiciary and fair trial. As per HRCP, “People feel that their political rights have been infringed under the guise of the Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance, which prohibits activities that are prejudicial to public safety.”

Presently, there is no semblance of a Nation State in the geographic area which passes off as the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. In this turmoil the biggest victim are the people of PoK and Northern Areas who are undergoing rampant colonisation. The residents of PoK lack a constitutional status in Pakistan even more so than the Mohajirs, the Balochis, the Pashtuns and the Sindhis who are now in open revolt against the government seen to be Punjabi (Army) dominant. To make matters worse blatant settlement of Punjabi Muslims and Pathans in the area is putting a severe strain on the demographic pattern though this is not as bad as the situation in Gilgit-Baltistan.

The elections held in PoK on June, 2011, followed by installation of a puppet government, has laid the framework of continued exploitation in the long run. With the swearing in of Sardar Mohammad Yaqub Khan as President, the ruling PPP, in accordance with tradition, established its stranglehold on the region. Historically, it is always the ruling party, or a Pakistan army-sponsored party when the country is under military rule, which forms a government in PoK. In a sham which passed off as elections, the PPP, predictably, established a majority in the legislative assembly and installed its senior member, Choudhary Abdul Majeed, as the Prime Minister. Sardar Muhammad Yaqub Khan, an erstwhile member of the APHC joined the PPP a little before the assembly elections and has been rewarded for his defection by being appointed the President of Azad Jammu Kashmir alias PoK. Thus the stranglehold is once again complete. Now that there is a change of government in Pakistan, the political establish of PoK will also witness a change soon enough.

The newly appointed President did not take too long to establish his intention to toe the PPP line despite being in an apolitical appointment. In his address after taking oath, he roundly condemned the arrest of Ghulam Nabi Fai in the United States despite it having been established that Fai was involved in underhand lobbying sponsored by the ISI. He further said that his top priority would be the Kashmir issue as his ancestors had “liberated the territory of Azad Kashmir” and their mission has to be completed – so much for reconciliation.

A different version to the entire ballgame has been presented by Altaf Hussain, the exiled leader of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), whose ”Mohajir” party members are being selectively targeted in the ongoing violence in Karachi. In a telephone conversation with Sardar Atique Ahmad Khan, an ex-Prime Minister of PoK, the MQM chief said, “Everyone in Pakistan is aware of the fraud in the recent Azad Kashmir elections.” “The current government is authoritarian and not a democratic government,” he added.

There are voices of protest coming up; those actively involved in this crusade to seek justice are Shabir Choudhry’s Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front, Abdul Hamid Khan’s Balawaristan National Front, All Party National Alliance, Karakoram National Movement, Karakoram Students Organisation and Afro-Asian People’s Solidarity Organisation and many others. These political organisations have, time and again, reiterated their demand for empowering the people of PoK and Northern Areas to decide their future both political and economic outside the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.

Comparison with J&K

It goes without saying that the story of the so-called “under Indian occupation” J&K is on the other hand very different. Despite hostile terrain and a strategically disadvantageous location, this region has exhibited development feat after development feat. It offers not just state-sponsored employment but a thriving tourism industry revived virtually from the dead. The population is free to practice and observe their regional social norms and customs without any curbs whatsoever. The basic infrastructure in the form of transport (road, rail and air), education and health facilities is enviable. Being part of the strong and vibrant Indian State the region is well protected against any untoward and sudden event of a cataclysmic nature such as earthquakes that frequently rock the region, sometimes with catastrophic devastation as seen in 2005 and referred to earlier, above all it is ensured in terms of defence against aggressive designs.

Deep beneath the layer of deceit and blatant opportunism that has enveloped PoK and Gilgit-Baltistan since the last six-plus decades there is a very palpable disgust for Pakistan. Many in the twin regions, including its large Diaspora in the United Kingdom and other parts of the world, find India’s handling of its part of Kashmir more commendable. There is a growing awareness that while India has respected Kashmir’s age-old practice of not allowing outsiders to settle down in the Valley, Pakistan has allowed blatant settlement to fleece the local populace in the name of Jihad.

With regard to socio-economic parameters everyone is aware that Kashmiris in the Valley are better educated and better skilled due to the better education facilities that are available to them. On the political front, India has held fair elections in the Valley right down to the Panchayat level while the Pakistani government not only indulges of gross manipulation of elections, it also has the gumption of dismissing installed governments at will. Not only that, trade and exchange of services with the rest of the country provides a huge market for ethnically produced foods and handicrafts. Even the tourism industry is dependent on the rest of the country for clientele. Kashmiri population lives and moves around in any and every part of India with complete freedom. In fact the economic and social ties with the rest of the country are so strong that it cannot survive outside of the Indian Union. This is a widely acknowledged fact. Despite all this, the Indian State of J&K is portrayed as being under the rule of foreign occupation forces.

The socio-political and cultural landscape of PoK and Gilgit-Baltistan has been adversely affected since it has been the epicentre of Pakistan-sponsored Jihad against India through J&K. ISI has set up headquarters of the HM and many other elements of what is termed as the UJC in Muzaffarabad. All other groups engaged in violence in J&K like the LeT, JeM, Al Badr, etc, also have a prominent presence in these regions, in the form of training camps, offices and headquarters. The principal terrorist training camps are also in this region and people have been protesting openly for their removal. This, in itself, is reason enough for India to seek a change in Pakistan’s policy not only for the sake of the beleaguered people but also to wipe out the footprints of terror from Pakistan.

India’s Moral responsibility

The time has arrived for the world, led by India, to intervene in this highly oppressed region and pressurise the government of Pakistan to take cognisance to the just demands of the people. In 1971, India gave moral, material and military assistance to erstwhile East Pakistan against exploitation by West Pakistan and was responsible for the creation of a new nation now called Bangladesh. Against the backdrop of such moral standards it is surprising that the nation is not reacting to the sad plight of its own people. The need of the hour is to set aside diplomatic compulsions for the sake of humanity.

It is quite astounding that the Kashmiri Sunni separatist leadership that harbours ambitions of a greater independent Kashmir including Gilgit-Baltistan has nothing to say about the ongoing holocaust. The silence of Syed Ali Shah Geelani and his Hurriyat friends over this ongoing massacre of Shias by Sunni Punjabi settlers is beyond belief.

The Indian leadership also needs to take a clear stand on the legal premise that PoK and Gilgit-Baltistan is Indian territories and the people are Indian citizens. We should not forget the vacant seats in J&K Assembly and Parliament for the region under Pakistan control. India must stand for people. This is the road map for the future now that terrorism has been controlled. India should be dominating these areas rather than all sorts of terrorists using them to come into Indian land.

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