Pakistan should vacate the Gilgit Baltistan region immediately, India's stern

New Delhi: India has reprimanded Pakistan in stern words, over the order issued by the Pakistan Supreme Court, to hold elections in the Gilgit-Baltistan region of Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK). Pakistan Supreme Court has no jurisdiction to issue an order regarding this area, as this is a region illegally occupied by Pakistan. India lambasted, that along with Gilgit-Baltistan, Jammu-Kashmir and Ladakh are integral parts of India and Pakistan cannot legitimise the claim on the region, illegally occupied by it, by bringing about changes in the situation, in the region. India has also demanded that Pakistan should immediately vacate the Gilgit-Baltistan region and has issued summons to a Pakistani diplomat.

Pakistan Supreme Court has ordered elections in the Gilgit-Baltistan region. The court has also ordered the Pakistan government to make amendments to the laws. Pakistan is making efforts to make changes in the legal situation, in this region, since a few years. In the year 2009, Pakistan named this region as ‘Northern Area of Gilgit-Baltistan’ and had initiated moves to declare this region, as the fifth province of Pakistan. Pakistan even appointed a Governor and a Chief Minister in the region. In 2018, the Pakistan government amended the previous law and completed the process of declaring Gilgit-Baltistan as the fifth province of Pakistan. But the bitter opposition from India foiled the Pakistani plot and Pakistan shelved the scheme for some time.

But now, under the disguise of the order by the supreme court, Pakistan is trying to execute the hidden conspiracy once again. Thereafter, India has reprimanded Pakistan in a very stern language. These Pakistani activities are an attempt to coverup the illegal occupation. But India will not let that happen. India has warned that this is an integral part of India and Pakistan should vacate this region on an immediate basis. The Indian foreign ministry summoned the Pakistani diplomat and registered its protest. The Pakistani diplomat has been informed sternly that India will not tolerate such activities.

Currently, Pakistan is facing opposition even from the locals from Gilgit-Baltistan. The local population has appealed to India that it should take control of the region and end their plight, saying that Pakistan has not done anything other than looting the region and showering atrocities on the local people. The demand has intensified ever since India abrogated article 370 of the Indian Constitution. This has made Pakistan more restless.

The China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a part of the ambitious Chinese project, Belt and Road Initiative, passes through the Gilgit-Baltistan region. The locals are bitterly opposed to the project and the opposition is increasing by the day. India has repeatedly warned China that this project violates Indian sovereignty. Pakistan, currently passing through a severe economic crisis, feels that CPEC is the only economic solace for Pakistan in the future. Therefore, Pakistan is trying to legitimise the illegal occupation of this region.