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GOVERNMENT OF GILGIT BALTISTAN
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Importance of Gilgit-Baltistan

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Importance of Gilgit-Baltistan

22 April, 2024 Waqar Ul Hassan 10806
Importance of Gilgit-Baltistan

Gilgit-Baltistan spans 27,188 square miles (72,000 square kilometers) with a population of around 2.3 million. It consists of three divisions - Gilgit, Baltistan, and Diamer - further divided into ten districts.

The region is bordered by the Wakhan strip (Afghanistan) and Xinjiang (China) to the north, Indian-occupied Kashmir to the south and southeast, and Chitral (KPK) to the west. It features tall, snow-covered mountains and many valleys. The Hindukush range to the north separates Ishkuman and Yasin valleys from the Wakhan corridor. The Pamirs join the Hindukush near the Pakistan, China, and Afghanistan borders. Further east are the Karakoram's Muztagh mountains, with the Gilgit, Indus, and Shyok rivers forming its southern boundary, separating it from the Himalayas. K2, at 28,251 feet, is the highest peak, followed by Gasherbrums, Broad Peak, Rakaposhi, and Mashabrum. In the eastern Himalayas, Nanga Parbat is the highest at 26,620 feet. Pakistan (Gilgit Baltistan) has five of the world's fourteen mountains taller than 8,000 meters (26,000 feet), with four near Concordia in the Baltoro region.

The century-long rivalry between Russia and British India for control of Central Asian states is known as the Great Game. Gilgit, seen as the gateway to India and the fulcrum of Asia, was crucial for British India's safety. The British aimed to secure their northern border to prevent Russian advances through the Pamirs and Hindukush into Chitral and Gilgit. Today, again, Gilgit-Baltistan has become a centre of new great game played by India and Afghanistan with the start of CPEC. 

The Indus River, the longest in Pakistan, originates from Manasarowar Lake in Tibet and flows through Tibet, Ladakh, Skardu, Gilgit, and Terbella, covering 620 miles to Skardu. The Terbella Dam, the largest earth-filled dam, is on the Indus and is vital for agriculture and irrigation in Punjab and Sindh. Key passes linking Gilgit Baltistan with China, Afghanistan, and Indian-occupied Kashmir include Kilk, Mintaka, Khunjerab, Shimshal, Muztagh, Karakoram, Darkot, Irshad, Sia la, Bailfond la, Gyong la, Chullang la, Chorbat la, Marpo la, Kamari, and Shuntar. The Siachen Glacier in Baltistan is highly significant.

In April 1984, India began occupying key peaks in a major airborne operation called Meghdoot. From these positions, the terrain slopes down to areas held by the Pakistani army, leading to major towns in Baltistan. India fears that if Pakistan controls more heights, it could threaten the Indian supply line to Ladakh and Kargil. Gilgit Baltistan is renowned for its magnificent glaciers, which feed the Indus River, providing 75% of the country's stored water supply. Notable glaciers include Baltoro (63 km), Batura (57 km), Biafo (67 km), and Hispar (61 km), with the Karakoram alone housing 40 glaciers.

 Historically, Gilgit-Baltistan was connected to China via the Silk Road, with routes passing through the Muztagh River to Shimshal and Hunza, and from Tashkurgan to Wakhan or Khunjerab. Another key link was across the Kilk Mintaka passes to Misgar and Hunza. The Silk Road has since been replaced by the Karakoram Highway (KKH), completed in 1979 and dubbed the eighth wonder of the world. The significance of Gilgit-Baltistan increased with the KKH's construction and now with the initiation of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). The distance from Gwadar to Khunjerab is 2,463 kilometers, saving China over 16,000 kilometers. Gilgit-Baltistan, the gateway to CPEC, covers nearly 500 kilometers of the corridor, making its role crucial for CPEC's success. Additionally, the Diamer-Basha dam, located 40 kilometers downstream of Chilas on the Indus River, is a major public sector project in Pakistan. Upon completion, it will provide 4,500 megawatts of hydropower and store 8.5 million acre-feet of water for irrigation.

The people of Gilgit-Baltistan share close religious, ethnic, and linguistic ties with those in Kargil (occupied Kashmir). The majority are Muslims of Balti origin, speaking Balti in Kargil and Shina in Dras. In the 1948 liberation war, Kargil and Dras were initially captured but later reoccupied by the Indian army. Currently, the Pakistan Army has strategic superiority in Kargil, threatening India's communication line to Siachen. The Deosai Plain, 30 kilometers from Skardu, is the world's second-highest plateau, covering 3,000 square kilometers at an average elevation of 3,500 meters, and is mostly snow-covered.

Gilgit Baltistan boasts diverse attractions, including mountains, the Deosai plateau, lakes, the Karakoram Highway, glaciers, deserts, forests, flora, fauna, heritage, culture, and traditions. In 2017, over 1.72 million tourists visited, with an expected 2.5 million this year. Properly organized tourism could be a significant revenue source. Historically, the people of Gilgit-Baltistan are notable warriors, evident from battles against Dogras, the British, and the Indian army. On October 31, 1947, the Gilgit Scouts staged a coup in favor of Pakistan, leading to the Dogra governor's surrender and the raising of Pakistan’s flag. The Scouts later became the Northern Light Infantry (NLI), excelling notably during the Kargil War and other conflicts. The people of Gilgit Baltistan are patriotic Pakistanis who, after their liberation, sought integration with Pakistan. Despite some government packages, expectations of people of the region remain unmet. Therefore, the people of Gilgit-Baltistan seek a provincial status or an empowered government like Kashmir till the final settlement of the Kashmir issue.

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