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Raja Azur Khan of Nagar: From Nilt to Exile in Kashmir — and the Continuing Legacy of the Nagar Royal Family

By  Syed Shamsuddin Follow on X Facebook Through the Windows of GB's History With reference to a Facebook post by Sumayar Valley dated 29 September 2026 An evocative Facebook post published by Sumayar Valley on 29 September 2026 has brought to light an intriguing and relatively little-explored episode in the history of Nagar and the wider Gilgit region : the fate of Raja Azur Khan of Nagar following the Anglo-Brusho War of 1891–92 , and the subsequent history of his family in Kashmir. The account opens an important window onto a period of profound political upheaval in the region, when the fortunes of its ruling houses were dramatically reshaped by the expansion of British influence and the military and political developments surrounding the Anglo-Brusho conflict. It also provides an opportunity to examine more closely what became of Raja Azur Khan and ...
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Monika of Bagrote: When a Stranger Becomes Family

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By  Syed Shamsuddin Follow on X Facebook Some people visit a place, some work there—but a rare few give so much of themselves that, over time, the distinction between visitor and local simply disappears. Monika Schneid , a renowned anthropologist, first came to this region some 35 years ago to undertake her fieldwork in Bagrote Valley. What began as an academic engagement gradually evolved into something far deeper. Over the years, she became so profoundly attached to the valley—its people, environment, culture and everyday life—that she was no longer merely a visitor or researcher; she had, in every meaningful sense, become part of the community. Her commitment eventually extended far beyond anthropological research. About two decades ago, she established a girls’ school in the valley, followed, some ten years ago, by a girls’ college at Datucheh. Remar...
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Shina Dictionary: A Silent Scholarly Endeavor to preserve a People's Linguistic Heritage

By  Syed Shamsuddin Follow on X Facebook The Silent Researcher Behind a Shina Dictionary Thumbnail An English Rendering of Mazhar Ali’s Facebook Post of October 5, 2026 Having followed with keen interest Mazhar Ali’s serious and sustained engagement in the arduous task of compiling a comprehensive Shina dictionary, one could hardly remain indifferent to the progress of an undertaking of such significance. His painstaking endeavour has naturally aroused a keen anticipation of its eventual fruition. His account below offers a fascinating glimpse into the scale of the undertaking, the methodology he has employed, and the scholarly rigour with which he has pursued this important linguistic work. This endeavour goes far beyond the mere compilation of words and their meanings. It constitutes a valuable effort to document, preserve, and enrich our understanding...
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From NATCL Barter Trade to Border-Pass Livelihood The Case for a Tax-Free Baggage Regime for Gilgit-Baltistan

By  Syed Shamsuddin Follow on X Facebook From NATCL Barter Trade to Border-Pass Commerce The Case for a Rational Tax Exemption for Local Traders of Gilgit-Baltistan The special economic relationship between Gilgit-Baltistan and China's Xinjiang region has a history extending far beyond the present-day Sost Dry Port and the modern China-Pakistan trade corridor. It is rooted in a conscious policy of facilitating cross-border commerce for the inhabitants of a remote and economically disadvantaged mountain region. That history deserves to be recalled when considering whether locally issued China-Pakistan border passes should carry a rational and clearly defined tax exemption for small-scale imports brought by unemployed and economically vulnerable residents of Gilgit-Baltistan. The beginning: the 1967 border-trade arrangement The Pakistan-China Border Trade ...
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Border Trade Must Serve the Unemployed Youth, Not Just the Affluent

Border Trade and the Right to Earn: A Case for Small Traders in Gilgit-Baltistan The recent election of Haji Muhammad Iqbal as the unopposed President of the Gilgit-Baltistan Import and Export Association at Sost is a welcome development, particularly if the new leadership takes up the cause of legitimate concessions for the large and growing number of unemployed people—especially the region's youth—who look towards cross-Khunjrab trade as a means of earning an honest livelihood. It comes at a time when Pak-China border trade requires not merely representation of the business community, but a clear policy direction that recognises the important distinction between large commercial interests and the livelihood needs of ordinary people . This distinction assumes particular importance in Gilgit-Baltistan, as I had earlier pointed out in these columns in my article “Awaiting Redress: The Gilgit-Baltistan Discourse,” published on August 2, 2025. It is noteworthy that Paki...
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The Shina Language and Gilgit-Baltistan

By  Syed Shamsuddin Follow on X Facebook Dr Amir Haider is a distinguished linguist whose work reflects a deep and well-established understanding of the Shina language. His scholarly study of Shina is of considerable value, particularly at a time when greater attention is needed to document, preserve, and understand the linguistic heritage of Gilgit-Baltistan. The piece referred to below is especially significant in this regard. It offers valuable insights into the origin, evolution, structure, and continuing vitality of Shina, and can serve as an important contribution towards a deeper understanding of this ancient and living language. It deserves to be read not merely as a linguistic study, but also as an effort to illuminate an important dimension of the cultural heritage of the Shina-speaking people. “A Language Should Neither Be Frozen nor Artificially Altered” By Dr. Amir Ha...
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Chilgoza Pine: From Diamer’s Natural Heritage to a Wider Economic Opportunity for Gilgit-Baltistan

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By  Syed Shamsuddin Follow on X Facebook Chilgoza pine in Diamer provides a particularly strong basis for considering whether this valuable species could be propagated more widely in suitable valleys of Gilgit-Baltistan. Official sources indicate that Chilgoza already occurs naturally not only in several valleys of Diamer but, more sparsely, in parts of Astore, Nagar and Ghizer. Chilgoza Pine: From Diamer’s Natural Heritage to a Wider Economic Opportunity for Gilgit-Baltistan 6 Among the natural treasures of Gilgit-Baltistan, the Chilgoza pine ( Pinus gerardiana ) occupies a special place. More than merely a forest tree, it represents a potentially valuable combination of biodiversity conservation, climate resilience, rural livelihoods and high-value agricultural enterprise . Its natural forests in Diamer District demonstrate that the ecological condi...
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