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OPINION JANUARY 26, 2024 | The Indian Eye 10

Gilgit-Baltistan and

Its Saga of Unending Human

Rights Violations

The Gilgit-Baltistan region has been devoid of political and constitutional rights since Pakistan occupied it.
The author states that the leading cause behind this violence is the population’s simmering discontent with the

absence of genuine democratic and constitutional mechanism to resolve their problem

ASHU MAAN

s evident from the title, the
author tries to draw atten-
Ation to umpteen human
rights violations by Pakistan in the
Gilgit-Baltistan region. Alok Bansal
points towards the sectarian violence
prevalent in Gilgit-Baltistan since the
1980s. He also mentions the complic-
ity of the Pakistan State apparatus in
unfolding violence against the Shia
and Ismailia population of the region.
He states how the state has enabled
Sunni hardliners from mainland Pa-
kistan to settle into the region and
perpetrate hate and violence against
the Shias. Alok Bansal writes:
“The Karakoram Highway con-
nected Pakistan to Gilgit-Baltistan,
which till then had been virtually in-
accessible for an average Pakistani
citizen. This started changing the
demographic composition of this del-
icate region. Along with others seek-
ing economic gains, many religious The leading cause behind the violence in the region is the population’s simmering discontent with the absence of genuine democratic and
fanatics also moved into the region, constitutional mechanism to resolve their problem (File photo)
who brought with them their own
radical ideology” (Pages 90-91).
Along with highlighting human Alok Bansal is right in his asser- dence of historical linkages of Jam- kistani academics, often supported by
rights abuse and sectarian violence, tion, as Gilgit-Baltistan has not only mu, Kashmir, Ladakh, and Gilgit in Western scholars that Gilgit-Baltistan
the author also touched on the le- been missing from policy and public each period. He highlights Hiuen has been a separate entity and never a
gality of Pakistan’s claims on Gilg- discourse but also from academ- Tsang’s writing about officials respon- part of Kashmir, hence India.
it-Baltistan, the political history of ic discourse. Alok Bansal starts the sible for blinding Prince Kunal, being The book exposes Pakistan’s
Kashmir coupled with Ladakh and first chapter with a historical back- banished by Emperor Ashoka to the nefarious designs to change the de-
Gilgit-Baltistan, UN resolutions, and ground starting from the pre-Mau- West of Khotan. He also writes about mography and culture of the region.
economic exploitations of the region ryan period, the rule of Hindu kings the inscriptions and carvings found The different castes of Shias (Twelver
by Pakistan. Through this book, Alok in ancient India, then passing on to at Haldeikish in Hunza Valley, Chi- Shias, Zaidiyyah, Ismaili) formed al-
Bansal reiterates the region’s strate- Muslim kings during the medieval las, and Alam Bridge along the Gilgit most ninety percent of the majority
gic, cultural, geographical, and demo- period, followed by the rule of Mu- River i.e. Gilgit and Skardu. He also in the region in the 1970s. Also to be
graphical importance. ghals, Afghans, Sikhs, before finally talks of Akbar’s invasion of Baltistan noted is the fact that, despite being
Alok Bansal starts the book by stat- coming back to the Hindu Kings. and Ladakh and the marriage of the predominantly Muslim, people in the
ing one disconcerting hypothesis. He One common variable in all the pe- princess of Baltistan to Salim. The area still follow Buddhist cultural tra-
says that: “Gilgit-Baltistan has not at- riods was that Kashmir, Ladakh (in- author proves the historical linkages ditions. The culture and demography
tracted the requisite interest of the In- cluding Baltistan), and Gilgit were of India to Jammu and Kashmir and of Gilgit-Baltistan were unaccept-
dian policymakers, academic scholars, always an integral part of India or Kashmir to Ladakh and Gilgit-Baltis- able to President Zia-ul-Haq. Zia-ul-
media or the general public at large”. a vassal state. The author gives evi- tan to counter the propaganda of Pa- Continued on next page... >>

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