Sandeep Jain Writes: Recently there were newspaper reports about Pakistan contemplating inclusion of Gilgit-Baltistan as another province of Pakistan. The aspect raised concerns even in the British Parliament[1]. Of course for Pakistan it has become a catch 22 situation wherein, if they retain status quo then CPEC passes through disputed territory and India’s objections to CPEC gain legitimacy. On the other hand, if Pakistan declares Gilgit-Baltistan to be its province then it dilutes its own stance on J&K.
There is no easy way out for Pakistan out of this quagmire, which incidentally is entirely of its own making. In the interim, Pakistan has embarked on an insidious campaign of altering the Shia demography of the region by resettling large Number of Sunnis from Pakistan’s other provinces.
The uncertain status of this region has affected development and livelihood of its people adversely. Pakistan while controlling this area does not provide it with the same level of developmental assistance as it does elsewhere. On the other hand it is keen to extract as much resources as possible. The people remain second grade citizens in Pakistan. Even though the region is an integral part of J&K as also of India, adverse control by Pakistan means that Indian governance and development cannot be extended there.
India should aggressively highlight the plight of the people of Gilgit-Baltistan in international forums such as the United Nations. While Pakistan often quotes J&K to be the core issue, they are seldom prepared to discuss POK and Gigit-Baltistan. It is time India called their bluff in this regard.
China is also playing a bigger game in the process of proposing CPEC and is indirectly trying to legitimise the adverse possessions of Pakistan. India must in officially ask China to immediately change the nomenclature of CPEC as CIPEC (China India Pakistan Economic Corridor) as the same passes through Indian territory of Gilgit-Baltistan. Unless we repeatedly emphasise our legal status, Chinese will be inclined to disregard it. In fact a demarche to this effect must be handed over to the Chinese envoy in India.
There should also be a debate within India with respect to Article 370 of the constitution, in the backdrop of these changes which are playing out in the neighbourhood. The long isolation of J&K, through Article 370, has resulted in almost negligible investments in the state with the resultant loss of livelihood and development. Pakistan has also leveraged this isolation politically by fuelling militancy through active cross border support.
[1] ‘Gilgit-Baltistan Part of J&K, Pakistan in Illegal Occupation: Resolution in British Parliament – Times of India’, The Times of India, accessed 27 March 2017, http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/gilgit-baltistan-part-of-jk-pakistan-in-illegal-occupation-resolution-in-british-parliament/articleshow_new/57846246.cms.