Important considerations
The government should have been better prepared for the kind of Indian and Kashmiri nationalist paranoia that talk of ‘upgrading’ Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) has triggered. The Chinese would naturally have been unhappy about investing parts of their CPEC billions on disputed territory, so it is not as if this issue would not have been raised in the initial stages. Yet while senior ministers talked loosely about G-B being ‘part of Pakistan’, there hasn’t been the kind of parliamentary process that must precede such major policy decisions.
Many questions will have to be addressed to the satisfaction of many. Kashmiri nationalists have, as expected, not just evoked history to protect their position, but also warned of India usurping its occupied part of Kashmir under the same precedent. India, meantime, has gone back to its own line of Pakistan ‘depriving the people of the area of their legitimate rights’, etc. Delhi is wary of the potential economic windfall for Pakistan as well as enhanced Chinese presence in the region. Yet common locals, long isolated and ignored, are in favour of the ‘upgrade’, eyeing improved education/work opportunities as well as political empowerment.
The prime minister must immediately take this matter to parliament. Popular media, too, must initiate a detailed simultaneous debate. The matter must be deliberated upon at length, involving all segments of society. Only then will the government reach a position from where it can make necessary constitutional amendments. So far, though, the ruling party is dealing with this matter in typical fashion; keeping it limited to the kitchen cabinet and allowing precious little to pass through. But this is too complicated a matter to be handled in this manner. The government should realise that any further delay will hurt the Economic Corridor as well as its standing both at home and abroad.
Only a legal scholar can clarify this part. The fact remains if we say Kashmir is a disputed State & Kashmiris are the only one to decide the fate of their course then be it. Gilgit-Baltistan belong to the people who live there & since the Kashmir issue is not going to be resolved any time soon, then the only alternative is a referendum. Let this referendum decide the fate of CPEC under the watchful eyes of the world. Future of the people of this area cannot be kept hostage to our dealings with India. I am positive there must be some behind the curtain discussions going on.
I believe that changing the status of Gilgit-Baltistan will weaken Pakistani stance about the future of Kashmir. By doing so Pakistan is accepting the status quo as a permanent solution of Kashmir's issue, of course India will be very happy to see this. Kashmiris/Pakistanis the choice is yours.
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