Fizza Batool
Fizza Batool, is a BS Defense & Strategic Studies student with a passion for research and social impact. With experience as an intern at the Ministry of Defense and Such News ISB, she excel in challenges, leveraging her creativity, problem-solving skills, and interpersonal abilities to drive results.
The fact that Gilgit-Baltistan is strategically located at the junction of Pakistan, India, and China – along with its rich natural resources, glaciers, and access to the crucial China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) – makes it a focal point in international politics. However, while the world powers (China, India, and Pakistan) focus on the geopolitical advantages of the region, the people of Gilgit-Baltistan often find themselves marginalized in terms of basic public services and political rights.
Gilgit-Baltistan is considered a disputed territory, which has prevented it from achieving full political integration within Pakistan. The region is not officially recognized as a province, and its governance structure remains complex. It is administered by Pakistan as a self-governing region, but its residents do not have the full rights and privileges of citizens in the provinces of Pakistan, particularly in terms of political representation, legal rights, and direct access to federal resources.The region’s status is tied to the broader Kashmir dispute. Pakistan has not granted it provincial status because doing so could complicate the country’s position in the ongoing conflict with India over Jammu and Kashmir. India also claims the region as part of its territory, and giving Gilgit-Baltistan the status of a full province could be seen as further legitimizing Pakistan’s control over the area.
As a result, the region’s political future remains uncertain and unresolved. While Gilgit-Baltistan holds substantial natural wealth and has been incorporated into major projects like CPEC, the region’s economic benefits have not been sufficiently directed toward the development of its infrastructure or the well-being of its people. The focus on strategic and economic projects often overlooks the welfare of the local population. The poor condition of roads, lack of proper schools, universities, and healthcare facilities reflects a major disparity in the region’s development. This contrasts sharply with the immense investments made in the region for strategic projects like CPEC. The Indus River and glaciers offer resources, but the local community is deprived of the necessary infrastructure to capitalize on these resources for their own benefit.
The infrastructure in Gilgit-Baltistan remains underdeveloped. The Karakoram Highway, a key route linking Pakistan and China, is perilous, with frequent accidents due to poor maintenance. The lack of road safety, healthcare facilities, and educational institutions makes daily life difficult for residents, especially in remote areas.Many children from Gilgit-Baltistan are forced to leave the region to pursue higher education in larger cities, reflecting the severe lack of higher education institutions locally. There is also a lack of hospitals and healthcare facilities, leading to difficulties for the population in accessing basic medical services.Gilgit-Baltistan’s diverse ethnic and cultural makeup also contributes to the complexity of governance and development. The region is home to several ethnic groups, each with its own historical identity and demands. These groups have often felt sidelined in terms of political representation and access to resources. The lack of meaningful local autonomy has led to dissatisfaction and frustration among residents, further complicating the region’s governance.The people of Gilgit-Baltistan have long demanded greater political rights, including the status of avfull province within Pakistan, but their calls have largely gone unanswered.
Despite these issues, there is a sense of abandonment, as the region’s needs are often overshadowed by the broader national and international political agenda. Pakistan’s hesitation to grant Gilgit-Baltistan provincial status is tied to its delicate position in the Kashmir dispute. Granting full provincial status to Gilgit-Baltistan could be seen by India as Pakistan’s official stance on its claim to the entire region of Jammu and Kashmir, which would escalate tensions between the two countries. Additionally, while the Pakistan-China Economic Corridor (CPEC) is a major strategic priority for Pakistan, the political complexity of integrating Gilgit-Baltistan into Pakistan’s federal structure remains an obstacle. There is fear that granting provincial status might complicate Pakistan’s foreign policy with China and India, as well as the region’s disputed status.
The neglect of Gilgit-Baltistan’s people, despite the region’s critical geostrategic importance, is largely due to the complex political situation stemming from the Kashmir dispute, economic prioritization for CPEC, and Pakistan’s reluctance to grant full provincial status. This has resulted in a situation where the region’s people, though situated at the crossroads of some of the world’s most powerful nations, continue to face challenges in accessing basic services like education, healthcare, and infrastructure. For Pakistan to address the needs of its citizens in Gilgit-Baltistan, there needs to be a shift toward prioritizing local development and providing political stability. Greater political integration, improved infrastructure, and a more inclusive governance model could help balance Pakistan’s strategic ambitions with the well-being of its people. However, the issue remains complex and sensitive involving both domestic and international dimensions that require careful consideration.