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The northern part of what India calls Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and Pakistan calls its Northern Areas comprises the remote and backward areas of Gilgit and Baltistan. While what Pakistan calls Azad Kashmir comprises barely 4,000 square miles, the Northern Areas cover more than 28,000 square miles, though most of the area is too harsh for human habitation. Some 2,500 square miles of this region was ceded to China under a border agreement in 1963.
The people of this region, which comprises the districts of Gilgit, Skardu, Ghezer, Diamar and Ganchhe, however, prefer to call it Balawaristan, and many insist that they have been illegally occupied by Pakistan since November 16, 1947, when Pakistani troops and tribal volunteers invaded the then independent state of Jammu and Kashmir.
The Balawaristan National Front established on July 30, 1992, is currently headed by acting chairman Nawaz Khan Naji. In an exclusive interview with rediff.com Senior Editor Ramananda Sengupta, Naji explains why, despite being shot at by local policemen in June last year in an obvious assassination attempt, he still leads the movement for independence.
Q.: What made you take up the cause
of independence?
A.: I belong to Gilgit and am 41
years old. I am a graduate and have been a political activist since my
student days. When I was a student, the people of Gilgit, of Baltistan,
were crying to be annexed with Pakistan or with Kashmir. But I introduced
a new ideology, that we are neither Pakistanis nor Kashmiris. That the
people from Ladakh to Chitral have a separate identity, status, ideology,
entity, that we have our own languages, culture, race, geography, and common
economy, but we have never had a separate status. This area must first
become a separate unit. Then we shall decide whether we want to go with
Pakistan, with Kashmir, or seek independence.
For this purpose, I have established a political party, the Balawaristan National Front. Initially I was alone, but then I got many followers and was elected chairman.
Q.: What is Balawaristan?
A.: I believe the Balti, Brooshoo
(Yashkon), Sheen, Khoh (Chitrali) and Wakhi people and those Kashmiris,
Gujjars, Kohistanis, Pathans, Turks and Hazaris who lived there before
the Pakistani occupation belong to the same nation. We need a common name.
This area is the junction of the Himalayas, Hindu Kush and Karakoram ranges
in between the 'roof of the world' Tibet and Pamir. There are many high
peaks, like Nanga Parbat, and the biggest glaciers of the world, like Siachen,
here. In the past, the area was known as Bala, which means high. The people
were called Balawar, or highlanders. That is why we call the area from
Ladakh to Chitral Balawaristan.
Q.: This area was once part of Jammu
and Kashmir. After Partition and the wars with India, it was occupied by
Pakistan. But it is never described as Azad Kashmir, but as the Northern
Areas by Islamabad, which rules it by proxy...
A.: In the early 18th century,
Balawar was divided into several states, which were attacked and occupied
by Tibetans, by Chinese, and others. By 1850, there were three powers in
the region -- Dogras, Sikhs and the British. They attacked first in Ladakh,
then Baltistan, then Gilgit, and then Chitral, and occupied the area. From
1850 to 1947, the region was under Kashmiri rulers.
But the people of the region fought to expel the Dogras from Gilgit-Baltistan. They had a golden chance during Partition, when the maharaja [acceded] to India. At that time our people fought against the Kashmiris and established a free government, the Republic of Gilgit. The first president of Gilgit was Raja Sharif Khan.
After 15 days of rule, they asked for Pakistan's help -- not for annexation, because Kashmir had already been annexed by India -- and Pakistani officials came to Gilgit. But because they were weak, the Pakistanis occupied the area, expelled the president, appointed a political agent, and Gilgit became once again a political agency of Pakistan, like it was an agency of British India in the past.
But Pakistan had no chance legally to rule the area. Therefore they made an agreement with the Azad Kashmir government in 1949 that until the status of Kashmir is settled, the area would be ruled by the federal government in Islamabad. It is under this agreement that Islamabad rules the region.
But the Pakistani government is only a caretaker government till the decision on Kashmir. Once the Kashmir issue is settled, we will decide our future course, whether we want to go with Pakistan, with India, with an independent Kashmir, or become independent ourselves.
Q.: You mentioned Ladakh and Kargil
as part of this region. What makes you think they will join you?
A.: I see Balawaristan comprising
Gilgit-Baltistan, Chitral, Sheenaki, Kohistan, Ladakh and Kargil.
But the inclusion of Chitral, Sheenaki, Kohistan and Ladakh and Kargil
in Balawaristan depends totally and voluntarily on the will of their indigenous
population. Once they see us as an independent nation which shares their
cultural and other values, it will be up to them to decide.
Q.: The area is rich in natural
resources and minerals, yet it remains so backward...
A.: Founder of Pakistan Mohammad
Ali Jinnah described Kashmir as the jugular vein of Pakistan. Actually
this jugular vein is the Indus river, which flows through Ladakh, Baltistan
and Gilgit. The second river is the Jhelum, which flows from the valley.
The third is the Chenab which comes from Jammu. If this region separates
from Pakistan, the jugular vein will be cut. The big jugular vein is Balawaristan,
which has the most important river in Pakistan.
We have gold, minerals, fresh water from the glaciers, the power from the rivers. We are actually a buffer state of Asia. We are above Asia, centre of Asia, fulcrum of Asia, with borders with Pakistan, India, China, the Central Asian states and Afghanistan.
Gilgit is very important. The Pakistani government knows the importance of this area. So it doing a few things for the area in terms of development, but that is not enough. We are very important for Pakistan, but Pakistan is not giving enough attention to us.
Q.: Why?
A.: Because we are a very backward
region, far from Islamabad, there is a communication gap. Because, unlike
the Kashmiris, we are not crying too much. We are not yet an independent
nation. So someone who is not crying, who will give attention?
But now we are growing as a nation, because roads, telephonic communication, recently these networks are developing. Then we will connect to each other. And now we know about the world, what is parliament, what is president, prime minister, what is democracy, what is identity. Earlier, this was an island cut off from the world. The aeroplane first came to Gilgit, then the Jeep and other vehicles came. We are naturally backward. Therefore the Pakistan government was not giving us much attention. Now the Pakistan government is thinking seriously about the area, because the people are thinking about their basic and democratic rights. So now Islamabad has increased its budget for the region.
Q.: So who rules the region?
A.: Pakistan's Kashmir affairs
ministry is the ruler of Balawaristan. The Jammu and Kashmir minister is
the chief executive of the area. He can make rules and regulations and
administer the area. His orders are law. The area is sensitive militarily,
so the military also has a say. But there is no participation of locals
in the sense of elected representation. The chief secretary, the IGP, the
home secretary, are all exported from Pakistan. A few secondary posts are
held by their people who belong to Balawaristan.
Q.: What about allegations of human
rights violations?
A.: There are too many human rights
problems. An area which is without a constitution, no independent judiciary,
no democratic setup, these are all very big violations of human rights.
The chief executive is not chosen by the people. Violation of human rights
is not only to kill the people.
=========================
‘We are ready to fight against
Pakistan’ (Interview with Balawaristan leader Nawaz Khan Naji)
Author:
Publication: Rediff on Net
Date: March 16, 2004
URL: http://in.rediff.com/news/2004/mar/17inter.htm
When Pakistani troops and irregulars occupied a large part of the then independent state of Jammu and Kashmir in November 1947, only a small chunk of 4,000 square miles was designated 'Azad Kashmir.' The rest of the territory, more than 28,000 sq miles of rugged, mostly inhospitable terrain comprising the remote, backward areas of Gilgit and Baltistan, was hived off and designated the Northern Areas.
But the people of this region, who prefer to call it Balawaristan, insist that they have been illegally occupied and are now seeking independence.
In the second and concluding part of an exclusive interview with rediff.com Senior Editor Ramananda Sengupta, Balawaristan National Front acting chairman Nawaz Khan Naji explains why Pakistan's occupation is illegal and what his people expect from the current efforts of India and Pakistan to resolve the Kashmir problem.
Q.: Do people from this area have
any representation in Pakistan?
A.: No. Because we are not in the
constitution of Pakistan, we cannot cast a vote or stand for a parliamentary
post in Pakistan. We cannot appeal to the Supreme Court of Pakistan.
We are foreigners, actually. It is completely an occupation. Article 8 of the agreement signed between Islamabad and the government of Azad Kashmir in March 1949 says Pakistan will think about Gilgit and Ladakh only after a decision on Kashmir. This agreement is between Pakistan and the AJK government, between Gurmani [Mushtaque Ahmed Gurmani, minister without portfolio, government of Pakistan], Sardar Mohammed Ibrahim Khan [president of 'Azad Kashmir'], and Choudhary Ghulam Abbas [head of the All-Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference].
Who are these people? The people of the Northern Areas don't know them. We did not cast a vote for Ghulam Abbas or Ibrahim. There was no Muslim Conference, and there is still no Muslim Conference in Gilgit. So how can the head of the Muslim Conference sign an agreement with Pakistan about that area? Our president was Raja Sharif Khan, and the AJK president was Sardar Ibrahim. So how can Ibrahim sign an agreement on Balawaristan? Our president was expelled and appointed a civil services officer! Our army chief was Colonel Khan, who was demoted to lieutenant!
Q.: How does the peace process between
India and Pakistan affect your movement?
A.: We support and appreciate the
peace process. We are very happy about this situation. We call on them
to discuss the Kashmir issue, particularly the issue of Balawaristan. We
are an oppressed people.
Q.: You say you are a separate
nation, yet you want two other nations to discuss your status?
A.: According to the UN resolutions,
Pakistan and India are parties to the Kashmir dispute. We don't have the
power to fight these countries. Therefore they should discuss, but without
our will it is impossible to solve the problem. They should satisfy the
Kashmiris, they should satisfy the Balawar people. Only then can the problem
be solved.
First, these countries must make peace, and then they should discuss Kashmir and Balawaristan. If they are fighting each other, it is not a good situation for us. Which is why we support the peace process. After that, the two countries should discuss with us the problem. The Indian government should discuss with the Hurriyat Conference, and the Pakistan government should discuss with the BNF, Gilgit-Baltistan National Alliance, and other parties in Balawaristan, like the Hurriyat and Advani [are doing]. Only then can we put forward to Pakistan what we want, and do something for our future.
Q.: What exactly do you want?
A.: In the political process, there
will be some flexibility. But actually we need our own state, our own identity.
If we become an independent nation in the world, we will be very happy,
but if Kashmiris are adjusting with Indians, then we can adjust with Pakistan,
not on the basis of annexation, but perhaps a confederation, a union, it
is possible. But we cannot become a province of Pakistan. That is not negotiable.What
do you mean by autonomy?
Autonomy means our assembly which we elect by vote, will make laws, rules, and elect the chief executive. The government should be by chosen representatives of the people.
Q.: You just spoke of two other
parties in the area. How much representation do they really have?
A.: I spoke of the Gilgit-Baltistan
National Alliance. They are all parties, nationalists, religious groups,
Pakistan-based parties, they have joined this alliance.
Autonomy till a decision on Kashmir, like the AJK setup, we should have got that in 1947. We are not averse to autonomy. But with the decision on the Kashmir dispute, we are the fourth party to the dispute. India, Pakistan, Kashmir and us. We will decide our area's future. They will not impose any solution on us, which we will resist. This is the second point of the alliance. Therefore they should contact us and satisfy us. If we are not satisfied, Kashmiris are fighting against India, we are ready to fight against Pakistan, politically, and in every field.
Q.: But how strong are you on the
ground?
A.: It is very difficult to fight
against a power, but we can pursue it perhaps in a democratic way, peacefully.
Now the world has become a global village and everyone can see what is
happening in our area. We will cry against this oppression, we will build
pressure on Pakistan to accept our basic rights, our identity. If big power
will crush weak people, America will crush India, India will crush Pakistan,
and Pakistan will crush Balawaristan... this is not the human way to do
things. There are too many weak nations in the world, yet they are recognised
as nations. We must be recognised too. If, however, our people want to
go with Pakistan, then we will accept it. If our people want independence,
the international community should be helpful.
Q.: What has been Pakistan's response
to your call for talks?
A.: Pakistan cannot give us independence,
for sure. But after our crying, our protests, the government is starting
to do something for our area. They are gradually upgrading the democratic
system. Like the Northern Areas Council has become the Northern Areas Legislative
Council, which has local representation, though the chairman is the chief
executive and Kashmir affairs minister, who is from Pakistan. The posts
of speaker and deputy speaker have been introduced. And there is an elected
deputy chief executive, but a deputy is a deputy. But gradually, very slowly,
we are going for autonomy. This has been achieved only through our efforts.
Otherwise, Khyber, Mohmand, Waziristan, all are agencies, where it is not
necessary to create councils of legislators.
Earlier, the deputy commissioner was the chief of the supreme court of the area. But following our cry, our struggle, they appointed a chief or judicial commissioner, and now there is a chief court, equal to high court, and they are preparing an appellate court.
Q.: All these are local appointments?
A.: The chief justice is from Islamabad,
the other judges are local. In every department, the chief is from Pakistan,
the other, secondary positions are locals.
Q.: How strongly is your struggle
linked to the Kashmir issue?
A.: It is very strongly linked
to the Kashmir issue. The Pakistan government says [that] until this issue
is resolved we cannot do anything for you. Kashmir is disputed for 57 years.
But the two sides of Kashmir are enjoying their rights. The Indian side
has representatives in the Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, even in the Cabinet.
They have a legislative assembly and their own chief minister. They have
their own high court, they can appeal in the Supreme Court. On the Pakistan
side of Kashmir, they have a semi-autonomous state, they have their own
flag, they have their own name, they have their so-called president, an
elected prime minister, an assembly, a huge Cabinet, budget. Then, on the
Indian side, they are protected by the law which says a non-Kashmiri cannot
buy property in Kashmir. But we have nothing.
Q.: Nothing?
A.: We have no president, prime
minister, parliament, courts, and the Pathans are buying property and our
cities are becoming Pathan-majority cities, where our locals are becoming
minorities. We have no right to cast votes in Pakistan, nor in Azad Kashmir.
Like a no-man's land. We are the last colony in the world. For 57 years
we have been hoping for an end to the Kashmir dispute. But our patience
is running out fast. Our struggle will be fast, and we will do something
with the occupiers.
Q.: What about Pakistani claims
that India is fomenting trouble in the area?
A.: We say India is not initiating
anything in the area. People who say this are liars. India claims Gilgit-Baltistan.
But it is doing nothing for it. Pakistan says India claims the area, so
we cannot do anything for you. India should do something for them. Only
a claim is nothing. Pakistan claims Kashmir, and its supporters are working
in that region, in Indian-held Kashmir. But what is India's role in Gilgit-Baltistan?
Nothing. Indians do not appreciate enough. They did not exploit us. On
Doordarshan, in your newspapers, there is no news of Gilgit-Baltistan.
No news anywhere. India says PoK, Pakistan says Kashmir, but no one thinks
of us. Pakistan says Gilgit-Baltistan is not part of Kashmir. India should
highlight all these things, but it does nothing!
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