On January 27, 2024 Red Lantern Analytica conducted a webinar titled ‘Understanding Occupied Gilgit-Baltisan under Pakistan aided by the PRC’. Amjad Ayub Mirza, Author and Human Rights Activist from Mirpur in PoJK and Aarti Tikoo Singh, Founder and Editor in Chief of The New Indian were the expert speakers of the webinar.
Amjad Ayub Mirza started the session by saying, “Gilgit Baltistan and Pakistan Occupied Jammu & Kashmir are reaching the point of no return. The power has fallen into the hands of people in the form of Awami Action Committees. No political party in the region has the support of the masses,” he said. He elaborated on how masses in the region have been rebelling against the Pakistani establishment for the past month in the -10 degree temperature. He further added that there is no electricity, infrastructure, or drinking water in Gilgit Baltistan and Pakistan Occupied Jammu & Kashmir. Mr. Mirza asserted that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor will not be successful.
Aarti Tikoo Singh stated, “Gilgit Baltistan under Pakistan occupation is only a 75-year-old story.” She elaborated on how the Pakistan Army wiped out ethnic minorities of Pakistan-Occupied Jammu Kashmir in 1947. “It has maintained the same approach in the last 75 years”, she added. Aarti Tikoo Singh also highlighted that Gilgit Baltistan is the only Shia-majority region in Pakistan. While underlining the incidents of Shia massacres in the region in the last 75 years, she stated, “Around 23,000 Shias have been killed in Gilgit Baltistan”. Anti-Shia violence has increased after the Zia-ul-Haq era. Ms Singh also mentioned that Blasphemy laws are being used to target Shias and other minorities in Pakistan. On the major powers rivalry in the region, she said, “The interests of Pakistan Army, China and the USA have converged in the Gilgit Baltistan and Pakistan Occupied Jammu Kashmir.” Aarti Tikoo Singh stated that China is interested in the GB and PoJK region due to Gwadar Port and enhance China’s connectivity with rest of the world. She noted that the Pakistan Army in the region is only interested in its interests and filling its coffers and not ensuring in welfare of the people. “Pakistan gifted the Shaksgam Valley to China for the same reason,” she mentioned.
Aarti Tikoo Singh also highlighted that because of the Pakistani Army’s policies, the country’s national debt has increased significantly and people are protesting for basic things like wheat. She further added, “Pakistan has achieved nothing through the CPEC”. Singh concluded by saying, “People of Gilgit Baltistan have been used as cannon fodder by the Pakistani Army, the USA and China. Nobody has thought about the welfare of the people of the region. The USA has never condemned the human rights violations of people of Gilgit Baltistan by Pakistan and China.”
Following the guest speaker’s address, there was an in-depth Q&A session. Dr. J Jeganaathan, Associate Professor at the JNU moderated the session. Ms. Karneet, research associate at Red Lantern Analytica delivered the vote of Thanks. The session closed after the vote of thanks was given. The session closed after the vote of thanks was given.
