Opinion | Gilgit-Baltistan: Voices Remain Unheard

Activists, journalists, and ordinary citizens who question authority often face harassment, imprisonment, or worse.

Gilgit-Baltistan holds a history as rich as its landscapes. Once an integral part of the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir, it has since been drawn into a long-standing and unresolved conflict. While the area’s beauty often grabs headlines, its people face stark realities marked by human rights abuses and political neglect. For decades, the people of Gilgit-Baltistan have been caught in a limbo, living under an administrative setup that denies them fundamental rights. Unlike other areas governed by Pakistan, they have no representation in the country’s National Assembly or Senate. Despite numerous promises, their voices remain unheard in decisions affecting their future. This absence of political inclusion is not just about governance; it’s about the dignity of being acknowledged as equal citizens. Many protests over the years, where locals demanded their rights, have been met with heavy-handed crackdowns, arrests, and sometimes even violence.
Speaking up in Gilgit-Baltistan comes with risks. Activists, journalists, and ordinary citizens who question authority often face harassment, imprisonment, or worse. Take the case of Baba Jan, a well-known activist who campaigned for the rights of people displaced by natural disasters. He was sentenced to life imprisonment on questionable charges, turning him into a symbol of the state’s intolerance towards dissent. This suppression of free speech has created an environment where fear overshadows the fundamental right to express one’s opinions. The erosion of cultural identity adds another layer to the struggle. Gilgit-Baltistan is home to various communities, each with its own language, traditions, and heritage. But these identities are being pushed to the margins.
Educational policies prioritize Urdu over indigenous languages like Shina, Balti, and Burushaski, which are now at risk of being forgotten. This linguistic and cultural sidelining feels like an erasure of the local identity, leaving many to wonder how long their heritage can survive under such conditions. Adding to these challenges are the religious divides that have been stoked over time. Gilgit-Baltistan, with its diverse mix of Shia, Sunni, and Ismaili communities, has often seen tensions rise due to external interference. These divisions have left deep wounds and weakened the social harmony that once defined life here. Development projects like the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) have been presented as a beacon of progress. However, for many locals, these initiatives have brought more problems than benefits. Lands have been seized without proper consultation or compensation, displacing families who have lived there for generations. The lack of transparency around these projects makes it hard for people to trust promises of economic growth when their livelihoods are being taken away. Access to justice is another area where the people of Gilgit-Baltistan face an uphill battle. Unlike other parts of Pakistan, they don’t have representation in the Supreme Court. Instead, cases are decided in courts controlled by Islamabad, leaving locals feeling powerless and unheard. This disconnect between the people and the judicial system only deepens the sense of inequality. What makes this all the more heartbreaking is the silence of the world. The international community remains focused on the broader world issues often overlooking the unique challenges faced by the people of Gilgit-Baltistan. This neglect has emboldened those in power to continue unchecked, knowing there is little accountability on the global stage.
The story of Gilgit-Baltistan is not just about politics or borders; it’s about people yearning for recognition and justice. Their struggles remind us of the unresolved legacy of the partition of India and the broader Kashmir conflict. The historical ties to Jammu and Kashmir should not be forgotten, as they form the backdrop to understanding the present crisis. Addressing these issues will require much more than superficial promises. True change will come when the voices of Gilgit-Baltistan are heard, their rights restored, and their identities respected. Without this, their fight for dignity will remain a poignant and unfinished story in the larger quest for peace in South Asia.
Syed Jahanzeeb is a freelance journalist and social commentator. He can be reached on syedjahanzeeb2@gmail.com