The people mostly Muslim but from the Shia and Ismaili branches of Islam, rather than from the dominant Sunni tradition. These disparate territories were brought under a single state only in the nineteenth century.
Gilgit- Baltistan Was Formerly known as Northern Areas and Territory renamed Gilgit-Baltistan in 2007. This region is a part of Kashmir conflict nevertheless Pakistan gave 5,800 sq km of Gilgit-Baltistan territory to China in 1963.
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Gilgit- Baltistan Region
– Gilgit Agency, Baltistan District of Ladakh Wazarat, hill states of Hunza and Nagar amalgamated to form the Federally Administered Northern Areas in 1970.
– It has given an advisory council in 1975.
– Pakistan supreme court ordered a change in administration, Advisory Council renamed as Northern Areas Legislative Council 1999.
– Northern Areas
– The Gilgit-Baltistan (Empowerment and Self-Governance) Order announced, Northern Areas Legislative Council replaced with Legislative Assembly in 2009.
– Pakistan Prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi take hold of more authority from the local council in 2018.
– The Indus flows through Baltistan and Gilgit and emerges from the mountains at Attock.
India Protest To Pakistan Order On Gilgit
“It was clearly conveyed that the entire state of Jammu and Kashmir, which also includes the so-called ‘Gilgit-Baltistan’ areas, is an integral part of India by virtue of its accession in 1947. Any action to alter the status of any part of the territory under the forcible and illegal occupation of Pakistan has no legal basis whatsoever, and is completely unacceptable.” – Ministry of External Affairs
Gilgit – Baltistan Conflict
Gilgit-Baltistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and Pakistan treat Gilgit-Baltistan as a separate geographical entity. Pakistan thinks over elevating the status of Gilgit-Baltistan on Chinese command.
-China’s CPEC project passes through the disputed region.
-CPEC, a flagship project of China’s ambitious OBOR.
India’s Stand On Gilgit- Baltistan Order
The entire state of J&K acceded to India in 1947 Gilgit-Baltistan will always be an integral part of India. Pakistan current moves are illegal and unacceptable.
-Pakistan trying to elevate area as its fifth province.
-Pakistan trying to elevate the constitutional status of the region to provide legal cover to CPEC.
Gilgit- Baltistan Geography
Pakistan Occupied Kashmir in the South of Gilgit- Baltistan while Province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to the West of Gilgit and Wakhan Corridor of Afghanistan to the North.
– Xinjiang region of China to the East and Northeast Gilgit- Baltistan.
-Jammu and Kashmir to the southeast
-The region was part of princely state of Jammu and Kashmir
-Became a separate administrative unit in 1970, known as ‘Northern Areas
Gilgit- Baltistan Covers an area of 72,971 sq km and An estimated population of Gilgit- Baltistan over 1.5 million. Amalgamation of former Gilgit Agency, Baltistan district and other small former princely states.
-Gilgit-Baltistan divided into seven districts.
-Two districts in Baltistan, five in Gilgit division.
-Gilgit and Skardu are main hubs for expeditions.
-Gilgit has its own Parliament.
-Skardu district has largely Shia population.
-Diamir and Astore districts have Sunni majorities.
History of Gilgit- Baltistan
The mediator was a clan of Dogra Rajputs from Jammu they conquered Ladakh in the 1830s, acquired the vale of Kashmir from the British in the 1840s and moved into Gilgit by the end of the century. And thus the state of Jammu and Kashmir came to share borders with Afghanistan, Chinese Sinkiang and Tibet.
Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir leased Gilgit to British for 60 years in 1935 after some year later Dogra rulers finished the lease and restored control of the area in 1947.
-Gilgit Scouts(Colonel Aslam Khan) revolted against Dogra rulers in 1947.
-Gilgit Scouts announced independence on 2 November 1947.
-Hari Singh signed Instrument of Accession on 26 October 1947.
-Pakistan occupied Gilgit-Baltistan in November 1947.
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