Window to Gilgit-Baltistan

THE MYTH OF NORTHERN AREAS’ LINKAGE WITH J&K –II (The Muslim dated 30.08.1991)  By  Shah Waisey   The Gilgit Scouts in collusion with Muslim officers of the 6th Jammu and Kashmir Battalion stationed at Bunji as well as on deputation with the Gilgit Scouts organised an uprising. A leading role in organizing this revolution was played by Col Mirza Hassan Khan, a son of the soil of Gilgit. The Gilgit Scouts without any external assistance overthrew the Dogra regime at Gilgit on November 1, 1947 by capturing the State apparatus and arresting the Governor. After wresting freedom from the Dogras, the provincial government of Gilgit decided to join Pakistan and requested Pakistan to take over the administration of the liberated territories. Acceding to the request of the Provisional Government (De facto Sovereign Body) of Gilgit, the Pakistan government sent Sardar Muhammad Alam on 17th November, 1947 to take over the administration as first Pakistani Political ...

(The Muslim dated 29.08.1991) Original header " The Myth of Northern Areas' linkage with J&K-I" Gilgit-Baltistan (including Raksham and Shagsham) and Jammu & Kashmir By Shah Waisey Professor Khan Zaman Mirza in his article in The Muslim of July 20, 1991 has tried to portray the Northern Areas as an integral part of the erstwhile Dogra State of Jammu & Kashmir. It is imperative to analyze his arguments in the historical perspective so that the nature of relationship between the two would be clearly understood. Prior to the penetration into the Northern Areas by the Dogras, Sikhs and the British, the region was apportioned into a dozen small principalities which were ruled by despotic, independent rulers. These rulers, due to their territorial ambitions and family feuds were perpetually engaged in internecine warfare. Taking advantage of these local rivalries and factional bickering, the Dogras of Jammu and the Governor of Sikh Darbar...

Provincial status for Northern Areas, published in The Muslim in 1991 (By late Wazir.G. Abbas ) THE mountainous region presently known as “N.As) is situated amidst three of the world’s most famous mountain ranges, the Himalayas, the Karakoram and the Hindukush. This backward and far flung area is little known to the outer world and some of our Pakistani brethren may not be familiar even with its name. It is the place where the borders of China, USSR, India and Afghanistan touch the Pakistan frontiers. The strategic importance of the area demands that every patriotic Pakistani takes active interest in its affairs and endeavors remove the consternation prevailing among the people due to the so far unidentified constitutional status of the area and the peculiar autocratic and oppressive set up of the administration. There is a difference of opinion in the constitutional status demanded for the area. One section of people demands the status of a province for the area, while anoth...