The Pakistani Spectator

An article written by SELIG S. HARRISON, a renowned US based journalist, published in New York Times is making rounds in the blogosphere, attracting attention at the global level. In the article titled “China’s Discreet Hold on Pakistan’s Northern Borderlands”, the writer argues that the government of Pakistan has handed over Gilgit – Baltistan to China, by allowing “thousands of soldiers of Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) in the region”. As a native of the region I would like to dispel the misinformation being spread by otherwise rational journalists.

What Harrison forgot to mention in his article is that it is not for the first time the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) is coming to Gilgit – Baltistan. But this is not to say that the Chinese Army has entered Gilgit – Baltistan, as Harrison would like us to believe. Reliable and neutral sources based in Sost, the border town between Pakistan and China, laughed the idea off, when contacted to know about any military movements in the region.

Back in mid-sixties the ‘infiltration’ by PLA, to quote Harrison, had already taken place followed by the withdrawal, as planned. The result was Karakuram Highway – eighth wonder of the world, which proved to be not just an important supply line for the otherwise landlocked region but also facilitated socio-economic development in Gilgit - Baltistan.

Remains of the residential enclaves built by the PLA, then, can still be seen at different places in Gilgit – Baltistan. Many farmers have used those buildings, left behind intact on request of the local people, for different purposes including sheltering cattle and storing hay!.

Expansion of the Karakuram Highway (KKH) is a mega project that was initially planned to be completed by 2013. But due to the massive landslide at Attabad and the resultant inundation of around 20 kilometers of the highway, the project is likely to take many more years than initially expected.

People of Gojal Valley, the region where most of the KKH has been damaged, have fond memories of the discipline and character exhibited by soldiers of the PLA during the construction of KKH. They surely expect the PLA to exhibit even more sophistication and care for the local communities during their second engagement in the region.

Construction of the dreaded tunnels, which the visibly fearful writer considers to be potential ‘missile vaults’, is important because many active landslide sites, that disrupt traffic every now and then, are present on the KKH. Construction of the tunnels seems to be an innovative solution to the constant boulder falls, landslides and mud flows that added immensely to miseries of the commuters, even during light downpour. These tunnels would ensure smooth traffic flow so there is no point in imaginatively putting missiles in them, sitting in New York or Washington.

Some of us are worried about the environmental impacts of the KKH expansion project because a major portion of it passes through the Khunzhrav (misspelled as Khunjrab by non-local writers) National Park, home to some rare flora and fauna species. The Chinese Government and the Government of Pakistan need to ensure that aspects of potential environmental degradation are taken care of, in light of internationally accepted and implemented standards.

Coming towards the talk of ‘simmering political rebellion’ in Gilgit - Baltistan, mentioned by the writer in his article, I think that’s a gross exaggeration at this point in time. There is no doubt that thousands of people demand more autonomy and control over the region’s resources, but there is nothing like a rebellion going on in Gilgit – Baltistan at the moment. There are nationalist movements in the region which lack the capacity to raise any serious rebellion in the region. Majority of the people, in lieu of their faith, are supporters of Pakistan. The younger generation has a tendency to speak critically of the governments and the state but most of them are not even ready to be part of an anti-state protest, let alone engage in a rebellion. Those who have ‘informed’ the writer – because he confesses to have not traveled here himself, seem to be well meaning people, most probably Indians.

I am bringing Indians in the discourse because most of the ‘facts’ stated by the writer, in reality, are Indian diplomatic lines, including the one regarding Sunni – Shia tussles. The Indians have been drumming the theory that Sunni Muslims and the Pakistan Army have joined hands to crush the Shia majority in Gilgit - Baltistan. In order to disprove this notion the Supreme Court of Pakistan, under the brave leadership of Justice Chaudhary, can convene a powerful, independent, fact finding commission to investigate the 1988 sectarian mob attacks in suburbs of Gilgit city. The fact finding commission shall single out the executioners, perpetrators and sponsors of that tragic incident and punish them in accordance with law of the land. If reality is not brought out and if justice is not dispensed, the rumors will keep making rounds, one way or the other.

The writer also talks about the ‘powers’ enjoyed by governments in the Indian Administered Kashmir. He should have listened to Sheikh Umar’s speech in the Lok Sabha recently, in which the chief minister lambasted the parliament for abandoning the Kashmiris.Having lamented India’s lack of interest in Kashmir, the chief minister, quite ironically, found the guts to see “India written on all corners of the Kashmiris’ hearts.”

The Indian brutalities in Kashmir have come to surface recently where stone pelting children are being shot dead, because they seek independence from tyranny and forceful occupation.

While one sympathizes  with the Kashmiris, let me point out that considering Gilgit - Baltistan as part of Kashmir is a historical mistake that even learned writers commit, just like HARRISON does in this article. Fact of the matter is that people of Gilgit - Baltistan won independence from the Kashmiri rule on the battlefield. Hundreds of lives were sacrificed on the mountains of Himalaya and Karakuram in search of independence. Even some officers of the Maharaj’s army joined the liberators of Gilgit - Baltistan in their freedom war. When war is won on the battle field, all past treaties become irrelevant. It is therefore not logically correct to consider GB as part of the former state of Kashmir. Our forefathers had liberated the region from the Dogra Raj.

China has been a trusted friend not only since 1949. Hunza has had a very cordial relationship with the state of China, as a neighbor. But let’s not also mistake China for an angel. Its economic interests are not hidden. We shall look at what we are able to get out of the changes.

People of GB will, by and large, welcome the PLA, if it comes to take part in rehabilitation of the disaster hit region. They have the machines and men to drain the dammed Hunza River. The devastation caused by recent floods has also left the region’s roads in shambles. The recovery has to be fast and in excellent quality. With PLA coming in the hopes are now high because people admire the Chinese way of infrastructure development.

By Noor Muhammad