Mohammad Jamil
The entire world knows about human rights violations by India in Indian Occupied Kashmir, yet India uses every ruse and subterfuge to defame Pakistan. Unrepresented Nations and peoples Organization (UNPO) in partnership with Mahatma Gandhi International AISBL (non-profit organization registered in Brussels) has released a report on Human Rights in Pakistan, which mainly comprises Indian propaganda themes on Gilgit Baltistan, Balochistan and Sindh. The report primarily focused on Gilgit Baltistan and called it Pakistan occupied, where people are deprived of its right to self-determination and declared presence of Pakistan Military illegal. It said CPEC is breach of International law and being implemented without consultation or compensation to the people of the area. The report also stated the ruthless Human Rights violations in Balochistan, Sindh systematic persecution of Baloch, Sindhi people by Security Forces. The report is a pack of lies and an effort to create rift between people of Pakistan.
The report also referred to the Senge Hasnan Sering, President of Gilgit Baltistan Institute claiming that CPEC will deprive 15-20 thousand job of GB peoples due to relocation of dry port from Sost, Gilgit to KPK. Last year, India had launched a campaign and propagated its narrative of so-called “progressive marginalization of local populace.” In fact, Pakistan has already taken measures under Gilgit-Baltistan Empowerment and Self-Governance Order 2009; and people of Gilgit Baltistan (GB) have their own government, elected Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly and Gilgit-Baltistan Council. The government of Pakistan has also initiated a process of deliberations to give a constitutional cover to the area on the lines of AJK. GB is the gateway of CPEC into Pakistan, whereby GB’s strategic and socio-economic importance has increased manifold. The area has huge potential in trade with China, tourism, minerals, gems, precious stones, agri-farming and hydro power production.
People of GB have always been unequivocal in defending their association with Pakistan and pay no attention to any propaganda. The adversaries pick and project unfamiliar people like Senge H. Sering, Abdul Hamid Khan etc., who try to hoodwink the world. Indian media also propagates stories about so-called increasing presence of Pak Armed Forces in GB, but remains silent on huge presence of Indian military in IOK and their atrocities on the people. India has been using every tactic to create unrest in Pakistan in general and GB and Balochistan in particular to obstruct the CPEC project. Indian RA&W has been involved in sabotage activities in Balochistan through Baloch sub-nationalists to hamper the progress of Gwadar port (a lynchpin of CPEC). After the arrest of RA&W terrorist/agent KulbhushanYadav, intelligence agencies are alive to challenges posed by Indian sinister maneuvers.
Today, India stands fully exposed and the world is now aware of India’s state terrorism to create disturbance and unrest in the neighboring peace loving countries through its proxies. Their objective is to sensitize people of the region about the complexity of sectarianism and historic split. Last year they presented charter of demands vis-a-vis Constitutional/fundamental political rights; CPEC benefits compatible to other provinces; Resistance to levy of unlawful taxes and Construction of Gilgit-Skardu Road. Anti-Pakistan forces including India and its foreign collaborators have launched propaganda campaign to poison the minds of people of Gilgit-Baltistan by distorting history. Gilgit-Baltistan (BG) is integral part of Pakistan, and the people are as patriotic and brave as people of other regions of Pakistan. They had fought against Indian forces and were able to get the area freed from Indian Army in 1948. But India is trying to stir anti-Pakistan sentiments in the GB.
The Institute for GB Studies professes cultural, economic and environmental rights of people of GB, but actually conducts venomous propaganda against Pakistan. But people of GB would not buy into India’s distorted logic and anti-Pakistan propaganda, and are resolved to frustrate the pernicious designs of anti-Pakistan forces because they are as patriotic as people from other parts of Pakistan. In November 2012, Institute for Gilgit-Baltistan Studies in its testimony before the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission of the US Congress called for demilitarization of Gilgit-Baltistan, what it said, with a view to promoting genuine autonomy and democracy, for re-instatement of state subject rule and people to people contact between Ladakh and Gilgit-Baltistan. It stated: “The US must persuade both India and Pakistan to open channels of economic and cultural activity between Ladakh and Gilgit-Baltistan and enable the UN to increase its role in Gilgit-Baltistan to protect the rights of natives.”
In November 2012, the UK based think tank The Henry Jackson Society, in collaboration with the Washington based Institute for Gilgit Baltistan Studies, held an event titled “Gilgit-Baltistan: South-Central Asia’s Socio-Economic Integration and Regional Politics” at the House of Lords. One wonders as to why Britain allowed its think tanks to involve in anti-Pakistan activities. Lord Sir Clive Soley of Hammersmith had reportedly facilitated the discussion and the panel consisted of Mumtaz Khan, Executive Director of International Center for Peace and Democracy, and Senge H. Sering, President of the Institute for Gilgit Baltistan Studies. The speakers observed that revival of travel across the line of control between Gilgit-Baltistan and Ladakh would help reunite more than ten thousand divided family members after more than six decades.
Addressing on the occasion Senge H. Sering had concluded: “China’s role in South Asia will increase with the withdrawal of NATO forces from Afghanistan, putting excessive pressure on the land, society and resources of Gilgit-Baltistan, and that Pakistan and China should respect the concerns of the locals in this regards”. In fact, India and its strategic partners are covertly working on the policy to contain China, and they use each every ruse and subterfuge to paint China in poor light. India had also raised objection to Neelam-Jhelum hydroelectric project being constructed by China on the grounds that it was a disputed territory. China did not pay two hoots or deemed it necessary to comment on Indian pleas. Since Pakistan took the decision to construct Bhasha Dam, India persuaded the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank not to fund the project, as according to it the Northern Areas are a disputed territory.
