Opinion | India Condemns Unilateral Administrative Changes by Pakistan in Gilgit Baltistan

India has again condemned in strong terms Pakistan’s efforts to unilaterally bring about administrative changes in Gilgit-Baltistan, which legally and constitutionally remains an integral part of India. India has rejected Pakistan’s action to give so-called “provisional provincial status” to Gilgit-Baltistan as a blatant move against India’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and international law. New Delhi has specifically stated that Pakistan’s illegal and forceful occupation of Gilgit-Baltistan cannot be justified under any provisions. Any attempt to bring any change in the status of the region, whether administrative, legal, or political, has no validity for India or according to international law.

India’s stance on Gilgit-Baltistan is based on historical facts, legal agreements, and constitutional principles. In October 1947, Maharaja Hari Singh, the ruler of the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir, signed the Instrument of Accession, thereby accepting the new realities of being part of the Indian Union. His accession, under the Indian Independence Act of 1947, was final, and irrevocable, and accepted by the then Governor-General of India. As a result, the entire state of Jammu and Kashmir, including Gilgit Baltistan, became part of India. In 1994, by consensus, the Indian Parliament passed a resolution reaffirming that the entire state of Jammu and Kashmir, including the territories under Pakistan’s illegal occupation, is an integral part of India.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has time and again asserted that no administrative, legal, or political adjustment by Pakistan is legitimate in a region under its illegal occupation. In a formal statement, the MEA asserted that Pakistan’s action in altering the status of Gilgit-Baltistan is illegal, null, and void, and that it does not alter the legal status of the territory, which is legally the property of India. These measures, in India’s view, are merely a perpetuation of Pakistan’s exercise to cover up its illegal occupation under political drama meant to consolidate its grip on the region.

India has drawn attention to the plight of the people of Gilgit-Baltistan, who are still suffering under the colonially type of rule in Pakistan. The so-called empowerment orders of 2009 and 2018, although presented, still do not offer autonomy, democratic freedoms or socio-economic development for the residents. These orders, in fact, did little to lessen the military grip Pakistan held on the area and about they were removed by the Pakistan military to access and exploit natural resources to them but not for the residents of Gilgit-Baltistan.. Judicial autonomy is nonexistent, political representation is sparse, and freedom of speech is consistently stifled. The voices of locals are muted by intimidation, detentions, and media censorship.

The MEA, in official channels such as its Twitter account @MEAIndia, reiterated India’s strong stand: “India strongly rejects any effort by Pakistan to alter the status of territories under its illegal and forcible occupation.” All these steps are legally invalid and shall never be acknowledged. India stressed that Pakistan’s actions contravene the Simla Agreement of 1972, which clearly stipulates that both nations must settle their differences bilaterally and not deviate from the current status quo unilaterally. Moreover, Pakistan’s move is also in contravention of several United Nations Security Council resolutions that warn against any material alteration of the status of Jammu and Kashmir until a final settlement is reached through peaceful means.

India has continuously raised concern about Pakistan’s systemic denial of fundamental rights in the region. Residents of Gilgit-Baltistan continue to act as second-class citizens that are not eligible for, constitutional guarantees, fair representation, or accountable governance. There is a growing presence of extremist elements in the region, contributing to instability and fear within the civilian population. An increase in militarization, driven by the region’s geostrategic value, is yet another barrier between the inhabitants of Gilgit-Baltistan, and their right to freely express themselves, security, and dignity.

India’s strong position on the Gilgit-Baltistan issue has also gained international support. During the 59th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva, the leaders of the United Kashmir People’s National Party (UKPNP) arranged a protest demonstration outside the UN headquarters. UKPNP Chairman Sardar Shaukat Ali Kashmiri and representative Nasir Aziz Khan voiced their protest against Pakistan’s oppressive rule in Gilgit-Baltistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). They pointed to the brutal gross human rights abuses, political crackdown, censorship of the media, and arrest of rights activists who raise their voices against injustice.

Sardar Shaukat Ali Kashmiri quoted a grim example where two brothers were reportedly murdered by the Pakistani army. When the local press club tried to cover the incident, it was forcibly closed down, and the victim’s family was intimidated. He asked the United Nations to dispatch a fact-finding team to the area to probe these abuses and provide victims with an opportunity to present their testimonies directly to the international community. Nasir Aziz Khan denounced the increasing extremism and indiscriminate detentions in the region, emphasizing that numerous individuals are jailed merely for calling for fundamental rights and regional ownership over resources.

The UKPNP leaders urged global citizens to recognize colonial type denial in those areas of Pakistan and also to demand accountability for the ongoing abuses. Their protests reinforced India’s ongoing assertion that the people of Gilgit-Baltistan and PoK are victims of illegal occupation and cannot be ignored.

The recent effort by Pakistan to change the status of Gilgit-Baltistan is both illegal and illegitimate, and demonstrates Pakistan’s desperation to consolidate its grasp on Indian Territory. India has been steadfast in opposing these developments, based on its sovereign rights, historical fact, and constitutional values. In taking these steps, Pakistan is violating not only India’s territorial integrity but international obligations and humanitarian values.

The global voices that came from Geneva serve only to amplify India’s appeal for justice and restoration of rights to the people of the occupied territories. India remains determined to preserve the dignity, security, and aspirations of its citizens in Jammu and Kashmir, including Gilgit-Baltistan. The Government of India has asserted unequivocally that regardless of how many political tricks Pakistan tries to pull, it cannot alter the legal or moral fact: Gilgit-Baltistan always was, is, and will be an integral part of India.

vadaiekashmir@gmail.com