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OPINION JANUARY 26, 2024 | The Indian Eye 12

Haq’s role in exacerbating extremism stan Economic Corridor (CPEC), on
in Pakistan and propagating ‘Sunni which Pakistan has pinned its hopes
Deobandi’ Islam is well known. Zia of economic growth, also passes
attempted to do the same in Gil- through GB. GB also forms a land
git-Baltistan, and the Karakoram bridge to Pakistan’s closest ally i.e.
Highway (KKM) served as a vessel China from whom Pakistan earn mil-
for his wishes. Zia’s attempts were lions in customs through trade.
also helped by removing of the State The book serves as a great ad-
Subject Rule by Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto. dition to scarce research on Gilg-
It is to be noted that the Maharaja it-Baltistan. It provides the historical
introduced the State Subject Rule to linkages of Kashmir with India and
preserve the diversity and rich culture of Gilgit-Baltistan with Kashmir. The
of the region. book then discusses the conditions
The author also makes an inter- of Gilgit-Baltistan’s occupation by
esting point while talking about sec- Pakistan after the British left. There
tarian violence. He states that inter- is little research on how Pakistan oc-
nal fault lines have been created by cupied Gilgit-Baltistan, the role of
Pakistan so that people engaged in Maharaja, Major Brown, and Gilg-
sectarian conflict don’t demand their it Scouts. The book briefly touches
political and human rights. Pakistan upon all their roles. The writer also
here seems to be employing British discusses Major Brown’s coup d’état.
India’s classic strategy of ‘Divide and He writes:
Rule’. Sectarian violence first oc- “The role of the Gilgit Scouts
curred in Gilgit-Baltistan in 1988, but and its commander Major Brown in
it was peaceful until 2003. The con- the developments of 1947 are often
flict reinvigorated after Islamabad exaggerated by scholars of both India
introduced a syllabus that the Shia and Pakistan”.
majority deemed ‘Sacrilegious’. This The author argues that Brown
started an endless chain of sectarian joined the rebellion as a last resort,
violence that shut down educational adding to an already controversial and
institutions for a whole year and con- much-debated theory. The book gives
tinues till day. It is to be noted that insights into the Gilgit-Baltistan resi-
the Pakistani establishment has time dents’ psyche and a vital policy sug-
and again supported and polarized gestion for India to follow. He writes:
the Sunni minority through sermons “Although provincial seats exist
and training. in Jammu and Kashmir Assembly
The Gilgit-Baltistan region has for representatives of this region, no
been devoid of political and constitu- attempt has been made to hold elec-
tional rights since Pakistan occupied tions, even though there are signifi-
it. The author states that the leading cant migrants from this region both in
cause behind this violence is the pop- India and numerous countries across
ulation’s simmering discontent with the globe.”
the absence of genuine democratic As echoed by the title, the book
and constitutional mechanism to re- As echoed by the title, the book aims to highlight the human rights abuses aims to highlight the human rights
solve their problem. The region, for by Pakistan in Gilgit-Baltistan abuses by Pakistan in Gilgit-Baltis-
decades, has been in a political limbo. tan. Although the author has justi-
It has faced the wrath of the dreaded fied most of his assertions, some have
colonial-era Frontier Crimes Regula- mer of hope with the passage of the that Islamabad gave minor conces- been addressed briefly and left with-
tion (FCR), which treated the popu- Gilgit-Baltistan (Empowerment and sions in the GB Order 2009 to give out further clarification. The author
lace as cattle. FCR was enacted in the Self-Governance) order in 2009. The an impression of granting political also touches on the controversial top-
Gilgit agency in 1901 by the Britishers order renamed the region as Gilg- rights, and they, too, were taken back ic of mutiny by Major William Brown
and in Baltistan in 1947 by Pakistan. it-Baltistan from Northern Areas (a by the GB Order 2018. About the GB and almost tries to justify the mutiny
Pakistan has used FCR to persecute name given by Pakistan). The order order 2018, the author writes: by Brown as an attempt to save lives
dissidents, where even kids as young also provided for a ‘Chief Minister’ “The order gives the Prime of non-Muslim officers, but it is to be
as two years old have been booked to be elected by the Gilgit-Baltistan Minister dictatorial powers over the noted that in his writings after return-
under the law. Although FCR was Legislative Assembly (GBLA). Lat- region with complete immunity for ing to Britain in 1953, Brown him-
removed in 1970, it did not bring any er, this exercise proved to be a farce his actions. He has the power to in- self stated that he orchestrated the
good fortune for the region. The au- as the GBLA was superseded by the validate any resolution passed by the mutiny. Major Brown was equally, if
thor states how the executive power Governor of Gilgit-Baltistan who was Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly, while not not more, complicit in the mutiny as
for the region has time and again appointed by the President of Paki- being answerable to the judiciary.” much as men of Gilgit Scouts.
been passed from one hand to an- stan and would report to the Gilg- (Pages 136-137). The book further paints a clear
other, sometimes in POK, in Islam- it-Baltistan Council, chaired by the The author also states the signif- picture of the cultural, ethnic, and
abad, and sometimes creating bodies Prime Minister of Pakistan. Although icance of GB for Pakistan. The re- religious situation in Gilgit-Baltistan
like the National Legislative Council, the GBLA got the power to legislate gion is rich in natural resources such
which had no real power and even on 61 subjects, the council got the as gold, ruby, iron, sulphur, quartz, This article first appeared as a book
the local administrators didn’t take power to legislate on 55 significant marble, and uranium 238. GB is also review on the website of Centre for
orders from the council. issues, like Defence, foreign affairs, responsible for most of the water sup- Land Warfare Studies (www.claws.in)
The region’s people got a glim- and security. Alok Bansal stresses ply in Pakistan, and the China-Paki- on January 6, 202

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