Baltistan
Baltistan referred as Little Tibet,
witnessed spread of Buddhism under Kushans. It was part of Laliaditya’s empire
in 8th century. Around 15th century a Muslim Missionary,
Mir Shamsuddin Iraqi has spread Islam in this region 3.
Akbar sent forces which captured
Kashmir in 1586 and acquired parts of Baltistan and Ladakh as part of marriage
alliance with Ladakh princess. Baltis briefly regained control but Shahjahan
later captured Ladakh, Baltistan, Kishtawar and made them part of Kashmir
Province. Under the Mughal suzerainty, this region developed close contacts
with Delhi and other regions of Jammu and Kashmir. Following the decline of
Mughal Empire, Afghan governor of Kashmir conquered this region leading to six
decades of oppressive rule. With the rise of Sikh Empire, Birbal Dhar,
representative of people from Kashmir requested Maharaja Ranjit Singh to invade
Kashmir and even offered to pay the expenses 4. Sikhs
defeated Afghans but their rule was confined to Kashmir and Jammu was given
away as a jagir to Raja Gulab Singh in 1820. By 1836 with permission of Ranjit
Singh, Gulab Singh invaded and captured Ladakh. In 1840 Gulab Singh’s General
Zorawar Singh conquered Baltistan and installed a puppet ruler Mohammed Shah as
Baltistan ruler. In 1842, Colonel Nathu
Shah of Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s Kashmir Governor captures Gilgit region 5.
Baltistan became part of Ladakh province of Jammu Maharaja’s Kingdom much
before Kashmir and Gilgit Agency.
Treaty of Amritsar
In 1846 after Sikhs were defeated
by Britishers, they signed the Treaty of Lahore. According to the treaty, Sikhs
were forced to cede all the regions between Beas and Sutlej and pay Rs I crore
indemnity. Sikhs offered all hill territories including Jammu and Kashmir as
indemnity. British then proposed to make Dogra King of Jammu the independent
ruler of Jammu and Kashmir if he pays Rs 75 lakhs. Britishers retained regions
between Ravi and Beas including Kangra.
Paying an indemnity of Rs 75 lakhs
to British, as per 1846 Treaty of Amritsar, new state of Jammu and Kashmir was
created and Maharaja Gulab Singh became absolute ruler of full-fledged
sovereign of the regions of Jammu, Kashmir, Ladakh, Gilgit, Chilas and
Baltistan, the last three together assumed the name of Norther Areas 2.
But after the 1857 mutiny due to Russia’s growing presence, British persuaded
Maharaja to bring Chitral and Yasin under his control. Chitral rulers accepted
the suzerainty of Dogra rulers and began paying tribute every third year. In
1877, the Gilgit Agency was constituted with Major John Biddulph as political
agent. The agent was withdrawn in 1881 but re-established in 1889 due to
increasing Afghan activities.
British clearly understood the
strategic importance of Gilgit region, and E.F. Knight’s words rightly captures
the intent- “The value of Gilgit to Kashmir state, commanding as it does to
the Indus Valley and mouth of Hunza River and holding in check the unruly
tribes on either side is obvious enough”; Lord Curzon called, Gilgit as, “it
is one of the Northern Gates, through which would-be invader must advance, if
he advance at all”. Given the strategic importance of all these frontier
states, British used to accord rulers of these region special status. In 1913
Gilgit Scouts was formed to take internal and external security of Gilgit
region.
Lease of Gilgit
After the 1917 Russian Revolution,
anxious of Russian moves, Maharaja Hari Singh leased out Gilgit Baltistan to
British for a period of 60 years as per agreement signed on March 26th,
1935. This gave the right of civil and military administration of the region
beyond the right bank of the Indus river to British viceroy. Though this region
was under the control of Maharaja, they were administered by the British from
1935 to 1947. The region left of Gilgit region, Dardistan and Baltistan home
for the Balti people was under direct control of Maharaja.
British had always set their eyes
on Kashmir and enamoured by its magnificent beauty and E.F. Knight opined, “The
climate of this paradise of Asia appears to be well adapted to the European
Constitution” and regretted the sale of Kashmir to Maharaja 10. Britishers believed that the sophisticated finery of Kashmir like the
shawls, pottery would have been ten times more lucrative than rest of India.
Hence, they would always interfere in the affairs of Kashmir under the pretext
of Maharaja inflicting hardships on people. Violating the Treaty of Amritsar,
Britishers, appointed a political agent, levelling charges of tyranny and
misrule against Maharaja Pratap Singh and deposed him. Given the strategic importance of the region,
the British started undermining the independence of Maharaja. Much against
wishes of Maharaja Pratap Singh, appointed Maharaja Hari Singh, the son of Raja
Amar as his successor. Hari Singh asserted his control up to Gilgit and refused
to approve imperial ambitions. It is important to note that Wazarat of Gilgit
which comprises of Tehsil of Gilgit, Astor and Niabat of Bunji was under the
direct control of Kashmir Darbar and the officer was called Wazir-i-Wazarat.
Fall of Gilgit
British terminated the 60 years of
the Gilgit lease agreement. As a result, the entire Wazarat of Gilgit and
Gilgit Agency was restored under the control of Maharaja. Britishers began
preparations to handover control of Gilgit agency to Maharaja by August 1st,
1947 ahead of independence. Brigadier Ghansara Singh, who is appointed as
governor of Gilgit Agency along with Lt Col Beacon arrived in Gilgit to discuss
the smooth transition with, Gilgit Scouts headed by Major Brown and Subedar
Major Babar Khan and other JCOs (Junior Commissioned Officers). But the Gilgit
scouts and military junta wanted the new governor to meet their demands to
continue in service. Governor Ghansara Singh accompanied by Chief of Staff Gen
Scott made assurances. Singh took over as governor on August 1st.
But the civil administration came to grinding halt with British officers opting
for Pakistan and refused replacements 6. All the stores
controlled by them ran dry.
Repeated requests of help to
Maharaja were somehow went unanswered. After independence, Maharaja failed to
make any attempts to consolidate his hold over entire region. In the meanwhile,
one company of 5th Kashmir Light Infantry commanded by Durga Singh
located at Bunji, 34 miles from Gilgit was replaced by 6th Infantry
composed of Sikhs and Muslims. Muslim officers of 6th Infantry
slowly established ties with Gilgit Scouts and JCOs and influenced them favour
Pakistan rule.
When Pakistan backed tribes invaded
J & K, Maharaja Hari Singh, acceded the entire state of J&K in return
for military help from India. In the intervening period, rumour flew thick and
high that Pakistan occupied Srinagar. Muslim troops surrounded Governor
Ghansara Singh’s house on October 31st and forced him to surrender.
To ensure safety of non-Muslims, governor surrendered. After his arrest, a
provisional government headed by Rais Khan set up “Peoples Republic of
Gilgit and Baltistan”3. Muslim troops killed the Sikh
troops of the 6th Infantry. Major Brown of Gilgit Scouts hoisted
Pakistan’s flag on November 4th, 1947. Soon rulers of Hunza and
Nagar joined Pakistan. After annexation, Pakistan’s agent Shah Mohammed Alam
reaches Gilgit on 16th November 1947.
Charade of Rebellion
While British complicity has really
made it a smooth sail for Pakistan. It would be naïve to believe that the
rebellion was indigenous the way Pakistan wishes to portray. On the contrary,
the officers in-charge were pro-Pakistan. Major Brown, Lt Hyder Khan and Babar
Khan singularly changed the rules of the game. In recognition of his
complicity, Pakistan bequeathed the honour of “Star of Pakistan” on
Major Brown posthumously. To set record straight, some reports indicate that
Brown during the initial days arrested the rebellion, saved lives of
non-Muslims, and would apprise Governor of everyday situation. But subsequently
he helped Pakistan in establishing control over the region.
Pakistan’s concocted idea of the
rebellion against Maharaja by the people in the region stands no ground. Given
the strategic importance of the region, British fostered seeds of separation
under the pretext of safeguarding it. The charade of rebellion of people
against Maharaja is false. Except for
the Mirs of Hunza and Nagar, Raja of Punial, Cheftains of Koh Gizar, Yasin and
Askoman and their subordinates, overwhelmingly welcomed the takeover of Gilgit
agency by Ghansara Singh. Raja of Punial along with his bodyguards came forward
to defend Brigadier Ghansara Singh. Unfortunately, 75% of Gilgit Baltistan
Scouts belonged to Nagar and Hunza and the Subedar Major Babar Khan who is next
in rank to Commanding officer was close relative of the Mirs of Hunza and
Nagar. This proved disastrous for the governor. The Sikhs in the 6th
Infantry were mostly new recruits with barely any experience.
While the locals were hardly
affected by the communal flareup in Punjab, the Muslims of the 6th
Infantry treacherously killed their Sikh counterparts. In connivance with
Gilgit Scouts, Muslim soldiers laid down trap, hunted and massacred Sikhs of
the same contingent. Ghansara Singh was aware of the deep muck he was wading
through. But his requests for help or assistance couldn’t reach Maharaja since
the telegraph office at Gilgit was managed by a Muslim and the wireless station
was controlled by Peshawar Radio Station 9.
After capturing Gilgit, forces led
by the Captain Ihsan Ali with 6th infantry invaded Baltistan. The
State forces headed by Col Sherjung Thapa resisted the Pakistani rebels who
tried to infiltrate through the Zojila pass, Kargil and Drass. Indian forces
joined Thapa but owing to the operational constraints of flying at heights of
over 4500mts, Royal Indian Airforce could barely offer any assistance through
air dropping7. The scale tilted in favour of Pakistan. State
forces led by Thapa fought valiantly for eight months and surrendered on 14th
August 1948. While India managed to regain Kargil, Pakistan took over Baltistan
and surrounding regions 8. Instructively, the occupied region
of Gilgit- Baltistan which is an integral part of the princely state of Jammu
and Kashmir doesn’t find a place in Pakistan’s constitution.
In August 1948, the United Nations
Commission for India and Pakistan (UNCIP) called for withdrawal of Pakistan’s
regular and irregular forces from occupied regions of J&K. In March 1949,
Pakistan created the Ministry of Kashmir Affairs.
Karachi Agreement
On April 28th, 1949, MA
Gurmani, Minister without Portfolio of Pakistan Government, the President of
Azad Kashmir, as successor of Jammu &Kashmir State, Sardar Mohammed Ibrahim
Khan of Muslim Conference signed Karachi Agreement. Accordingly, all important
issues like negotiations with the UN, defence and foreign relations rested with
Pakistan. Gilgit-Baltistan had no representation. This agreement formally
established Pakistan’s control over these occupied regions referred to as “Northern
Areas”. These Northern Areas were the former Gilgit Agency comprising of
Wazarat of Gilgit, Astor Wazart and Skardu Tehsil of Ladakh Wazarat.
Soon Pakistan separated the
administration of Azad Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan and ruled Gilgit region as
per the Frontier Crimes Regulation (FCR) laws instituted by the British. Under
the FCR, tribes of the region as considered barbaric, uncouth, and collective
fines and punishments were levied. While political activities aren’t permitted
in Gilgit-Baltistan, Azad Kashmir was not allowed to extend its political
activities beyond the region. Beneath the façade of the Azad tag, the Azad
Kashmir was no better than a colony. The Muslim Conference controlled the Azad
Kashmir. Pakistan chose to administer these regions separately since Azad
Kashmir is Sunni majority and Gilgit-Baltistan is a Shia majority region.
Invoking Muslim brotherhood, while
Pakistan prevailed on Muslims, the dominant population in the region to
liberate Gilgit from Dogras rulers, after annexation Islamabad treated them
with utter contempt and disdain. They curtailed political and social rights of
this region. By 1950 Ministry of Kashmir Affairs (MKA) took control of the
Northern Areas. In 1974 it was renamed as Ministry of Northern Areas (MKANA)
Sino-Pakistan Frontier Border
Agreement
After Pakistan occupied Gilgit and
adjacent regions, Chinese made first military incursions in 1953. In the past
Chinese claimed to not having any administrative control in Hunza and that a
border line existed. By 1959 they produced a map containing 6000sq miles of
Hunza and Gilgit as Chinese. While Pakistan sparred with India for settlement,
they quietly ceded over 5,700 sqkm of regions in Hunza and Nagar to China as a
part of Sino-Pakistan Frontier Border Agreement in 1963. The rulers of Hunza
and Nagar defected the Dogras, backstabbed the Maharaja Hari Singh to be part
of Pakistan. India’s vociferously protests the agreement and sent notes on May
10th 1962, stating-“The government of India solemnly warns the
government of China that any change, provisional or otherwise in the status of
the state of Jammu &Kashmir brought about by third parties which seek to
submit certain parts of India territory to foreign jurisdiction will not be
binding on government of India and that the government of India firmly repudiate
any agreement provisional or otherwise regarding her territories arrived at
between third parties who have no legal or constitutional locus standi of any
kind”. It added, “It is clear that the government of China in this
matter acting in furtherance of their aggressive designs and are seeking to
exploit the troubled situation in Kashmir and India's differences with Pakistan
for their advantage. The government of India will hold the government of China
responsible for the consequences of their actions”21.
Pakistan always adopted a dual
stand towards Northern Areas, on several occasions Islamabad acknowledged them
to be part of Jammu &Kashmir. At times, to suit its narrative, it would say
that Northern Areas are part of Pakistan since they rebelled against Maharaja
and joined Islamabad. Since 1970s Pakistan made plans to make Gilgit-Baltistan
as its fifth province. But objection from Azad Kashmir, pending consent from
all the provinces, its double stand on Northern Areas, admission of India’s
first right over these territories and finally the resistance by the people of
Northern Areas to remain a separate entity presented formidable hurdles to its
plan. But nevertheless, Pakistan continued to push its plans.
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