Imran Khan Grants 'Provincial Status' For Gilgit-Baltistan; India Opposes Saying It Is Intended To Camouflage Pak's Illegal Occupation

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Sunday announced to grant 'provisional provincial status' to Gilgit Baltistan.

Photo: AFP

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Sunday announced to accord 'provisional provincial status' to Gilgit Baltistan despite heavy protests in the country and strong opposition from India. According to the reports, Khan during his visit to Gilgit-Baltistan said, "One of the reasons for me coming to Gilgit-Baltistan is to announce that we have decided to grant Gilgit-Baltistan the provisional provincial status." A strong army is indispensable for a country to protect its sovereignty and solidarity, Khan added. The move has come after the Saudi Arabia removed Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan from Pakistan’s map. The latest development is expected to stir a massive outrage as India had strongly protested Pakistan’s move to make GB its fifth province. New Delhi had asserted that Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Gilgit and Baltistan are an integral part of India by virtue of its accession in 1947. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Spokesperson Anurag Srivastava in a statement said, "Such attempts, intended to camouflage Pak's illegal occupation, can't hide grave human rights violations & denial of freedom for over 7 decades to people residing in these Pak occupied territories."

India also opposed Pakistan's move to hold legislative elections there later this month, asserting that Pakistan had "no locus standi on territories illegally and forcibly occupied it." The MEA in an official statement issued in September had stated that, "Government of India conveyed strong protest to Pakistan Government and reiterated that Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, including the so-called Gilgit and Baltistan, are an integral part of India." Formerly known as Northern Areas, Gilgit-Baltistan was earlier governed by the 'Gilgit-Baltistan Empowerment and Self-Governance Order of 2009.'  It is pertinent to mention here that Gilgit-Baltistan legislative assembly are scheduled to be conducted on November 15, 2020.