Counter to Sudheendra Kulkarni article of Gilgit Baltistan in wire 

 

Pakistan has announced that it will merge the occupied territory of Gilgit Baltistan as a fifth province. And before the whole statements could be read out , Pakistani Aman ki Asha types in India have already started churning out series supporting Pakistani claim on Gilgit Baltistan, and where else but in ‘Wire’ that termed Army Chief as General Dyer . 

The group that supports Pakistan on issue of Jammu Kashmir has a modus operandi . It banks on the ignorance of the general people on the issue, chooses certain facts  uses them selectively ,out of context to weave an untruth, which has certain twisted threads of truth . Medieval and ancient sensibilities are often conflated with modern ones , creating a fake narrative. And then the lies are paraded as truth backed by documents . Sudheendra Kulkarni series in wire  on Pakistani claims on Gilgit are nothing but a secessionist  attempt to change the de jure boundary of a india ,clothed as historic facts .

The first truth the readers have to understand is, contrary to SS Kulkarni , Gilgit Baltistan was always a part of Bharat. Before 19 century , nations had frontiers which were flexible and concept of flexible territories. Thus, the frontier of a nation could stretch to far off territories without interfering in day to day activities. Hence the frontiers of a Bharat stretched all the way to Afghanistan , Kashgar( called Kashi) ,Yarkhand( Harikhand) , Tashkent . Frontiers and territories would increase and decrease with the authority and Millitary power of the emperors . Gilgit Baltistan and the tribal areas of Hunza, Nagar, Darel, Tangir, Punial etc all mentioned were since ancient times the frontiers of Bharat . Kushan king Kanishka ruled these areas, The extent of Lalitaditya kingdom reached till Tibet. The whole area of Gilgit Baltistan, including Hunza, Nagar, Chilas, Astore, Diamer which the writer mentions has thousands of Rock carvings and petroglyphs , many are in Brahmi ! Buddhist statues are carved outside Gilgit, Skardu has Manthal statues. Hunza has thousand of Buddha  carvings including UNESCO protected Sacred Rock of Hunza. And SS Kulkarni wants us to believe Hunza, Diamer ,Gilgit, Baltistan had no connections with Bharat and were annexed by force?? The Diamer Bhasha dam and a cascade of proposed Dams under CPEC will submerge these , so maybe Wire and Kulkarni want to keep the truth out till it is submerged ? 

Kulkarni asserts citing out of context statements from documents that Dogra kings were illegitimate rulers, British stooges etc.  The political structure of pre 1947 india was that British had 2 structures- British india and more than 565 princely states . Only British India was partitioned , princely states were not. They had the option to either accede to Dominion of Pakistan or of  India,depending on geographical contiguity . There was NO option for a third dominion or for partition of any state. Congress had suggested that plebiscite be taken in all princely states ,while Jinnah had proposed only Rulers should decide. British rejected the plebiscite and accepted the ruler deciding where to accede to. Thus only Maharaja Hari Singh had the authority to decide which dominion to accede to. 

So, once it is established that according to prevailing rules , Accession of J&K to Dominion of India was legal and final, the cabal tried all its might in last 70 decades to impute that Dogras were not legitimate rulers. They throw in the canard of Dogra kings purchasing Kashmir from British . Before Sikhs conquered Kashmir , Afghans had invaded Kashmir and ruled it nearly for 100 years. Before that Mughals, before that Chak dynasty of Gilgit, and before that it was Balti Prince Rinchen, and before that for centuries it was Hindu Kings. So can we take out one segment and claim ownership of that segment on Kashmir. The treaty was between British and Sikhs where instead of paying indemnity , Sikhs gave up part of territory. The Dogra kings then went to Kashmir and defeated the Army and won it . Gilgit Baltistan and all the frontier areas were annexed openly by conquests and were administered very well by the Dogras. Now the ‘ Kashmir vale being bought’ narrative is shifting to Gilgit, Hunza etc . Selective quotes from books damming Hari Singh and Dogra kings are picked out .

Dogra kings were very able administrators . Trade routes were very well maintained. A book ‘Kashmir to Kashgar ‘ written in 1873 by H.W Bellew praises the routes and the prosperity witnessed in Princely state . The annual reports of the trade on Leh Kashgar routes state that the routes were so safe that if transport animals perished , the traders could leave their merchandise and go to next post and bring new transport to pick up merchandise . 

Coming to Gilgit agency – it is an indisputable fact that British had decided under the india independence act to dissolve all treaties with All princely states. Since April 1947, meetings were held on when to vacate Gilgit agency. The area was remote, in high mountains and the area was inaccessible during winters.Nehru wrote two letters requesting British not to vacate the agency until J&K decided its accession but the British refused his requests and the reversion of Gilgit agency was announced via a gazette notification. 

The Gilgit scouts had negotiated terms of employment with Maharaja Hari Singh. Major a Brown had demanded and got the same salary and rations as the maharaja’s army. The residents of Gilgit were happy about being reverted to Dogra rule . The Mirs of Hunza and Nagar were in Srinagar to negotiate their sanads ( tributes ,gifts etc). The Maharaja used to Issue sanads ,but post 1935 the British had issued Sanads ,so these minor issues were worked out. Regarding the power to accede , only the Maharaja had the authority. There are volumes of material in national archives on Hunza and Nagar, and post 1935 india act, the British categorically concluded that Hunza,Nagar and the other states were under the Maharaja and not Independent . The Mir of Hunza was not trusted by the British as he was Hobnobbing with Chinese and Russians . So to paint the Mir as someone who was great is not supported by documents on record. He was not trusted by Pakistan either post accession. 

There was no involvement of local people during mutiny. The JK army unit posted at Bunji had Muslim officers already subverted by Jinnah. The Gilgit scouts was a lightly armed militia unit . British officers from Gilgit agency had opted for Pakistan via Options  which were offered by British to all their officers and men pan India, British officers of The army too had the option to join either Pakistan or India. So to impute that Dogra rule was so hated that many British officers joined Pakistan does not explain why Major Brown and Gilgit scouts negotiated their employment with Maharaja.

The Muslim officers of JK army massacred the Sikhs and Hindu officers and JCOs at Bunji. They moved to Gilgit and the non Muslim population of Gilgit took refuge in the Gilgit fort. The Muslim officers and major Brown of Gilgit scouts  were imprisoned but later agreed to support the Mutiny. Brigadier Ghansara singh was imprisoned but protected by Raja of Punial,who was a Muslim and who came with a small force to protect Brigadier Ghansara Singh. 

SS Kulkarni glosses over the massacre of non Muslims of Gilgit . The employees of JK government were kidnapped by Pakistani army and Pakistani  Government  officials who took over Gilgit. Daughters of these officials were converted and married off to Pakistani army officers. These facts are unpalatable thus have to be ignored? 

A secret report of 1951 from high commission of a india in Pakistan states that residents of Gilgit were happy at reversion of Gilgit to Dogra rule . But then they were brainwashed by the idea of an Islamic nation. The residents were unlettered and sharia compliant . The report states that within a few months of Pakistan occupation the residents of Gilgit Baltistan were disillusioned . The Pakistani officials were not Islamic, they consumed alcohol and their women folk did not observe purdah. Administration was mainly Pathans who were corrupt and inefficient . Food prices has risen up and the residents were not given any employment . A plan was proposed then in India to project Dogra rule as evil and present Indian rule under Sheikh Abdullah as benign to bring back Gilgit to India. Though Gilgit was never reattached , but the project to vilify Dogra kings seems to be alive.

Gilgit Baltistan are irrefutable Legal, cultural and Historic part of India. Those supporting Pakistani claims on the region should be treated as Secessionists . 

The blog was published by  http://c2c.news/2020/09/26/counter-to-sudheendra-kulkarni-article-of-gilgit-baltistan-in-the-wire/ 

What is POJK, Gilgit Baltistan , Aksai Chin - Let us know our occupied territories

 Strategic Importance of Pakistan Occupied Jammu Kashmir , Gilgit Baltistan and Aksai Chin 

Article 370 has been Amended as to implement the Union constitution in the state of Jammu and Kashmir and the state has been reorganised into 2 UT’s – Jammu &Kashmir and UT of Ladakh . In the parliament Home Minister has been on record to say that POJK and Aksai chin are included when J&K is mentioned. Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh has stated on many occasions that any Talks with Pakistan will be only on Pakistan Occupied Jammu Kashmir. In the recent UNGA session, China supported Pakistan on its stand on 370 abrogation and reorganisation of the State. It is imperative to understand the Occupied region and realise its importance.

Maharaja Hari Singh acceded to India on 26 October ,1947, by signing the instrument of accession. The princely state comprising of Gilgit Wazarat, Gilgit Agency, Ladakh , Kashmir and Jammu became a part of Dominion of India . On 22 October onwards , Pakistani Army under the guise of North frontier tribals called Kabilais invaded the state of Jammu & Kashmir from 3 axis..Jammu, poonch and  Kashmir. Meanwhile in Gilgit region the troops of Gilgit Scouts mutinied and Gilgit ‘acceded ‘ to Pakistan, after a massacre of Sikh Soldiers at Bunji. Jawahar Lal Nehru took the matter to UN and a ceasefire was announced on 1 January 1949 which allowed Pakistan to be in occupation of territories of Gilgit-Baltistan and Mirpur -Muzzafarabad, which it terms as ‘Azad Jammu kashmir’. China started to occupy the region of Aksai Chin in Eastern Ladakh from 1954 onwards by building a Road called Highway 219 connecting Kashgar in Xinxiang to Lhasa in Tibet . In 1954 , india issued a memo , stating that Johnson Ardagh line as its official boundary ,while China claimed Macdonald -Mac cartney line. Post 1962 Indo China war, it occupied the territory of Aksai Chin . In 1963, under a Pakistani -China  Border Agreement , Pakistan ceded Shaksgam valley in its Occupied territory of Gilgit -Baltistan to China. In addition, China occupies Minsar, an indian principality in western Tibet, which was a part of J&K, and whose revenues maintained Kailash -Mansarovar after it occupied Tibet .

Thus the Dejure Map of Jammu & Kashmir , has been converted to a map where a de-facto LOC exists on the Pakistani border and an LAC on the Chinese border .

Post occupation of Aksai Chin by China, Nehru had famously claimed that as not a blade of grass grows in Aksai Chin, it was irrelevant if China occupied it, completely ignoring the strategic. Importance of Aksai chin. Also , Grass did grow in Aksai chin as nomads came to graze their yaks in summers .Aksai chin was Criss-crossed by ancient trade routes which gave access to Tibet, China, Xinxiang and Central Asia and connected to various trade routes extending to Eurasia and Middle east. The important trade routes were Kashgar-Leh-Srinagar and Lhasa- Leh . These trade routes were stopped once Highway 219 became operational, causing economic deprivation in Ladakh . China connected its two occupied territories,ensuring movement of goods and Millitary. China’s ability to mobilise its troops and tanks gave it advantage in the 1962 war. Many analysts claim that in case of war, Chinese tanks can reach New Delhi very quickly. For many decades pre 2014, this analysis was given as excuse by Indian government of not enhancing Border infrastructure on Indian -Tibet Border .

Occupation of Aksai chin denies India access to Central Asia ,while China can monitor Central Asia. Aksai chin is like a Chinese satellite, which pressurises india on Chinese occupation of Shaksgam and its involvement in economic activities in Gilgit Baltistan. The CPEC project is vital to China as it creates a link via Gilgit Baltistan to Gwadar, cutting the distance of Xinxiang to a port to 2500 km ,from the 4500 km to Shanghai . Also, India is forced to maintain its forces in the areas, and frequent incursions occur by Chinese troops. Boundary talks are On since 1988 to find a solution to Aksai Chin.

Pakistani occupation of Gilgit Baltistan enabled it to extend its borders to China, and to Ladakh and Siachen . Gilgit Baltistan is the Gateway to Central Asia and Afghanistan from the indian subcontinent. Gilgit lies at cross roads of trade routes which are called the ancient Silk route. It shares its border with Xinxiang ( occupied by China since 1949) Afghanistan  And Pakistan, with access to Central Asia via Wakhan corridor to Tajikistan(25 km) . Ancient trade routes ,mainly Gandhar(Kandahar) -Varahmul( Baramulla ), Kashgar -Srinagar etc passed through Gilgit. Presently The Karakoram Highway enters Gilgit Baltistan through Khunjareb pass and connects Gilgit to Kashgar. The road is the central point of the CPEC (China-Pakistan economic corridor) . The road further extends to Islamabad and then to Gwadar deep sea port. Thus via Gilgit Baltistan, China gets its landlocked western and central areas access to warm waters of Arabian Sea. The central Asian republics, rich in natural gas, also get access to Sea port via this route.

China imports Crude oil from Middle East and Minerals from Africa ,exporting Finished products to both. Presently the sea route is via Indian Ocean,Malacca straits and South China Sea, where US, India are strong forces and US can impose Barricades via malacca strait. Also,the distance to shanghai from middle eastern ports is about 12000 km, along with added land route. A port in Gwadar ,linked by CPEC will make transport of the above goods very fast and insulate it from US .

Millitary presence of China in Gwadar port will give it power in Arabian Sea to offset Indian Dominance in the area.

Chinese investments in Gilgit Baltistan have given Pakistan disproportionate  power in the subcontinent which it did not have. Chinese Pakistan axis has potential to encircle India and keep it entangled with Pakistan. This is the reason China opposes Reorganisation of Ladakh and J&K as UTs . Historically, pre 1905, Gilgit, Baltistan and Ladakh including Aksai Chin were part of one district known as northern Frontiers .

 Indus River flows in Gilgit Baltistan From Ladakh.  China proposes to built a North Indus cascade , a group of 5 Dams starting from Skardu in Baltistan. The energy from these dams is proposed to be used by China, and irrigation by Pakistan. This is another challenge to Indian policy makers . 

Three largest Glaciers outside polar regions are in Gilgit Baltistan along with Mineral reserves including Gold, Uranium and Molybednum. Hunza has Best quality gold reserves . The Mir of Hunza would pay tribute to the Maharaja of J&K in sacks full of gold dust, collected from flowing streams . Pakistan has given mining rights of rare minerals to China, resources which belong to India.

Siachen Glacier is the area where three nuclear Nations -China,India and Pakistan link up. India dominates the area via Saltoro ridge. Ceding of Shaksgam valley and occupying GB enabled Pakistan to exert pressure in this area.

It must be noted that all wars with Pakistan post independence have been in this region, starting with first Indo pak war( Oct 1947-31 dec 1948), 1965 Indo pak war along LOC,  In 1971 on Ladakh Border, in 1984 the Siachen war (Ladakh Border) and in 1999 the Kargil war( Ladakh Border).Reclaiming this Territory will enhance security of India.

Mirpur -muzzafarabad ,which Pakistan terms as Azaad Jammu Kashmir, serves as an ideological mouthpiece for proponents of Independent Kashmir . It offers a stage for amplifying Separatist voices while giving space to terrorist outfits to set up camps . Infiltrations occur mostly from this area . Terror outfits active in Mirpur – muzzafarabad receive funds from abroad through various charities set up. The so called Kashmiri voices in UK are Mirpuris who migrated to UK post Construction of Mangala Dam. 

Minsar in west Tibet was an Indian principality which maintained Kailash Mansarovar area. The traditional route to Kailash Mansarovar was from Ladakh ,via Demchok to Minsar . Reopening of this route,which is quicker and safer will be of a great economic benefit to Ladakh .

To conclude, when we claim that Jammu&Kashmir is a strategic state, it is the occupied areas by Pakistan and China which are the real strategic areas. These areas gave India access to Central Asia,Afghanistan and made India prosperous via trade through silk route. Security of India was strengthened by control over these areas. Gilgit Baltistan along with Kashmir and Ladakh had been the centre of trade for centuries . To make India Strong and prosperous it is imperative to regain control of these territories .