Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan (Northern Areas)

The acquisition and retention of power has for time immemorial cut all those claiming to uphold majestic principles and morality down to size. It is a natural reaction to fight for justice when standing among the victims and wronged. It become a difficult choice when giving justice means losing privileges, prestige and power.

Pakistanis in general were unanimous in supporting the movement to restore the judiciary so that the fundamental rights of the people can be protected and the state held accountable. But those same supporters would refuse to see justice given to the minorities or Ahmedies of the country.

It is thus not surprising that the Kashimiri leaders, whose 'principled' stance for a right to self-determination was carried around like a torch, turn around and refuse the people of the Northern Areas to be governed separately under the Pakistan government's initiative of giving the area a new name - Gilgit-Baltistan - and unique powers separate from the rest of Kashmir.

The people of Gilgit-Baltistan are non-Kashmiris speaking a variety of languages. They claim they rose and fought the Dogra rule in 1948. Historically, the region was separate from Kashmir but 'gifted' to the princely Kashmiri state by the British in the mid-19th century. The people are predominantly Shia and have for a long time desired to become the fifth province of Pakistan and do not like to be linked to the Kashmiris.

Pakistan could have given them that recognition but for the UN Resolution of 1949 under which the status of Kashmir is disputed and treated as a whole. Thus any alteration that would push the region into the sphere of Pakistani legal codes, would mean a negation of the resolution on Kashmir - a resolution that is the basis for Pakistan's stance on Kashmir.

Thus Pakistan has only gone half-way in tweaking the status of Gilgit-Baltistan - much to the displeasure of the locals. However, the Kashmiri leaders are angry for even this tweak and refuse to accept the region being declared something outside the Kashmiri property.

While Kashimiri leaders are happy to call for the right of self-determination for Kashmiris, they are unwilling to give the same right of self-determination to the people of Gilgit-Baltistan.