Freed from Pakistan's Shackles: India's Time to Bring Gilgit-Baltistan Home
Even though Gilgit-Baltistan is a beautiful tourist destination, its serious internal problems are often hidden behind the scenic views. Sadly, every government has ignored the real needs of this region. Instead, Gilgit-Baltistan has mostly been used as a buffer zone, a strategic location, a vote bank for the Kashmir dispute, and a military base because of security concerns. Many people feel that Pakistan values the land of Gilgit-Baltistan more than its people—treating the land as an asset and the people as a burden. It's difficult to cover all the issues in just one article, but a few major problems do need immediate attention.
Firstly, education in Gilgit-Baltistan has been largely ignored. Some might say the region has a good literacy rate, but that is only partly true. While literacy levels have improved, it mainly happened because of the efforts of NGOs and private schools. The government has played almost no role in this progress.
More importantly, it is a sad fact that Gilgit-Baltistan does not have a medical college, an engineering university, or any top-quality higher education institution. This is especially worrying because today's world is a 'knowledge-based society,' where having knowledge means having power.
However, the government is not doing enough to fix this problem. Students are forced to travel to distant places to get higher education, which is expensive and difficult—especially for girls and students from poor families. Because of these challenges, many talented students are unable to continue their studies.
Secondly, another big problem is finding a good and respectable job after completing education. Even though students work hard during their studies, they often do not get jobs that match their talent and Efforts. For example, the current government recently cut the federal job quota (jobs in national-level government departments) for Gilgit-Baltistan from 4% to just 1% (including women and minorities). This tiny 1% quota in the Federal Public Service and Central Superior Services is not enough and has shut the doors for many young people who have been waiting for opportunities.
Also, government jobs in Gilgit-Baltistan are often given based on sect, ethnicity, or political connections, instead of merit. This has completely destroyed fair hiring in the region. On top of that, there are no big companies, factories, or private businesses to create jobs, and the agriculture sector is almost non-existent. As a result, many people are stuck in underemployment or have no jobs at all. This is likely to increase poverty and widen the gap between rich and poor. As Marcus Aurelius (a Roman emperor and philosopher) said, 'poverty is the mother of all evils.' Without enough jobs, social problems and class conflicts will grow, making the situation even worse.
Thirdly, there is a major problem with electricity in the region. Power cuts are very common. For example, in Gilgit City, the capital of Gilgit-Baltistan, there is no electricity for about 12 hours every day. People usually get electricity for two hours, followed by two hours of power cut, and this cycle continues throughout the day.
However, the situation is even worse in the more remote areas, where people sometimes have to go without electricity for days or even weeks if a technical problem occurs. It is surprising to know that Gilgit-Baltistan has the potential to generate 40,000 MW of power. Sadly, the repeated negligence of different governments has made things worse. Even though we are living in the 21st century, where most tasks are carried out electronically, the people of Gilgit-Baltistan are forced to live like they are still in the stone age, far removed from the modern, connected world.
Gilgit-Baltistan, covering 72,496 square kilometers, was once part of Jammu and Kashmir until India lost control of it in 1947. After Maharaja Hari Singh decided to join India, a British officer named Major William Brown led a rebellion with the Gilgit Scouts. They arrested the governor and handed the region over to Pakistan on November 1, 1947. Major William Brown was a British officer who commanded the Gilgit Scouts, a local force. He believed that since most people in Gilgit were Muslims, the region should join Pakistan, not India. On October 31, 1947, he planned a quick coup, arrested the Maharaja's governor, Ghansara Singh, and declared Gilgit's accession to Pakistan. His actions helped Pakistan take control, but India sees this as an illegal act that took away part of Jammu and Kashmir. Skardu, an important town and the main gateway to the high mountains of the Karakoram range, also fell later into Pakistan's hands. Pakistan then tightened its hold on the region, while India, due to military and political mistakes, could not regain control. Today, Skardu hosts a military airbase used by Pakistan, underscoring its strategic significance.
Today, Gilgit-Baltistan remains neglected. Its 1.7 million people still lack basic rights, opportunities, and essential services. Although its beautiful landscapes attract many tourists, the hardships faced by locals are ignored. Since its self-declared independence in 1948, Pakistan has kept the region sidelined, leaving its people feeling abandoned.
Now is the right time for India to take action and reclaim this important region. Its closeness to China, Afghanistan, and the Karakoram Highway makes it vital for India's security. If ignored, non-state groups or enemy countries could take advantage of the unrest, putting India's unity and safety at risk. India must work towards developing and properly integrating Gilgit-Baltistan before it is too late.
Quick note: Skardu is important because it is not just any town — it is the administrative center of Baltistan and close to key mountain passes and strategic locations.
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