GB problem

 **What is Going Wrong in Gilgit-Baltistan (GB), Pakistan-Administered Kashmir: Causes and Solutions**

Gilgit-Baltistan, often referred to as Pakistan-controlled Kashmir, is a region of breathtaking natural beauty nestled in the Karakoram, Himalayas, and Hindu Kush mountain ranges. It borders China, India, and Afghanistan, serving as a strategic gateway for the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Despite its immense potential in tourism, hydropower, minerals, and trade, GB faces deep-rooted crises in governance, human rights, economy, and social harmony. Locals have long demanded full integration as Pakistan’s fifth province, but its disputed status tied to the broader Kashmir conflict keeps it in constitutional limbo.

### Major Issues Plaguing GB

**1. Political and Constitutional Limbo:** GB is not a full province of Pakistan. It lacks representation in the National Assembly and Senate, and its residents do not enjoy full constitutional rights as Pakistani citizens. Governance relies on presidential orders (like the 2018 Order), which grant limited self-rule but remain under heavy federal control, especially in security and key policies. This creates a sense of disenfranchisement, as local assembly powers are curtailed, and major decisions come from Islamabad.

**2. Human Rights Concerns and Repression:** Reports highlight restrictions on political freedoms, arbitrary arrests, enforced disappearances, and crackdowns on activists advocating for autonomy or rights. Anti-terror laws are allegedly misused against dissenters, journalists, and human rights defenders. Protests over issues like wheat prices, power outages, or land acquisition often face heavy-handed responses.

**3. Sectarian Violence and Social Divisions:** The region has a diverse population (Shia majority, Sunnis, Ismailis, etc.), but sectarian tensions have led to violence, killings, and segregated communities in places like Gilgit. This disrupts daily life, trade, education, and tourism. External influences and internal inequalities exacerbate these fault lines.

**4. Economic Marginalization and Exploitation:** Despite rich resources and CPEC projects (roads, fiber optics, potential hydropower), locals report limited benefits. Land acquisition for projects displaces communities with inadequate compensation. Infrastructure lags (poor roads, electricity shortages, limited healthcare and education), unemployment is high, and development funds often bypass genuine local needs. Tourism, once promising, suffers from instability.

**5. Environmental and Infrastructure Challenges:** Mega-projects bring connectivity but also risks of environmental degradation, water issues from dams, and cultural disruption without sufficient local input.

### Root Causes

The primary cause is the **Kashmir dispute**. Pakistan avoids full provincial status for GB to preserve its legal stance on UN resolutions for a plebiscite over the entire former princely state of Jammu and Kashmir. This has left GB in administrative limbo since 1947-48, despite locals' historical accession to Pakistan.

Other causes include centralized control prioritizing strategic and external interests (e.g., CPEC with China) over local empowerment, historical underinvestment compared to other provinces, and manipulation of sectarian identities for political gain. Economic policies that extract resources (minerals, transit routes) without equitable returns fuel resentment. Weak local institutions and lack of genuine consultation perpetuate the cycle.

### Potential Solutions

1. **Grant Constitutional Status:** Integrate GB as a full province or grant robust provisional provincial status with full federal rights, representation in parliament, and constitutional protections. This would honor local aspirations while addressing legal concerns creatively (e.g., with safeguards for the Kashmir issue). Embed reforms in Pakistan’s Constitution for permanence.

2. **Enhance Autonomy and Local Governance:** Strengthen the GB Legislative Assembly’s powers, localize bureaucracy and judiciary, and ensure meaningful participation in CPEC and development decisions. Promote inclusive policies that respect ethnic and sectarian diversity.

3. **Address Human Rights and Security:** End repressive tactics, release political prisoners, protect freedom of expression, and investigate abuses. Independent oversight and dialogue with activists can build trust. Promote inter-sectarian harmony through education, dialogue forums, and equitable resource distribution.

4. **Inclusive Economic Development:** Ensure locals benefit from CPEC via jobs, SEZs in GB, skill training, fair compensation for land, and revenue sharing from hydropower/minerals. Invest in tourism infrastructure, renewable energy, agriculture, and healthcare. Prioritize sustainable projects to avoid environmental harm.

5. **Long-term Conflict Resolution:** While the broader Kashmir issue persists, parallel tracks for GB’s development and rights should proceed. International engagement (humanitarian, developmental) and diaspora input can help.

### Conclusion

Gilgit-Baltistan’s people are resilient, hospitable, and proud of their heritage. Its mountains symbolize endurance, but the region’s potential remains shackled by outdated policies. Granting genuine political rights, economic justice, and social harmony is not just a moral imperative but essential for Pakistan’s stability and CPEC success. Without urgent reforms, discontent will grow, undermining national interests. Empowering GB as a prosperous, integrated region could transform it from a flashpoint into a beacon of development in South Asia. Pakistan must listen to its people in GB for a just and sustainable future. 

Muhammad Younas.