Washington: – There is a change in the world’s outlook regarding Gilgit-Baltistan and POK. Senge H. Sering, President of the Washington based ‘Institute of Gilgit-Baltistan Studies’, said that the world is beginning to accept that Gilgit-Baltistan and Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK) legitimately belong to India. Recently, abrogation of article 370, completed one year. Sering, a political activist for Gilgit-Baltistan also reminded that the people of Gilgit-Baltistan celebrated the anniversary.
Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan published a political map of Pakistan, showing Jammu-Kashmir, Ladakh, Junagarh and Sir Creek as parts of Pakistan. Although Pakistan government is trying to please its population by releasing such a map, in reality, it has lost its sleepover the intensifying voices against Pakistan, emanating from Gilgit-Baltistan and POK. The political migrants, who have escaped POK and taken asylum in different countries, criticise Pakistan repeatedly and express confidence that the region will prosper after its inclusion in India. Senge H Sering the President of ‘Institute of Gilgit-Baltistan Studies’ also expressed confidence on similar lines, against the background of the political map released by the Pakistan Prime Minister.
Sering said ‘We always firmly believed that Gilgit-Baltistan is an Indian territory, ever since 1947. Article 370 on Jammu-Kashmir was abrogated on 5th August 2019. Thereafter, both Jammu-Kashmir and Ladakh became Union territories. Now, we have become a part of Ladakh.’ Sering said that he was confident that if Gilgit-Baltistan is included in Ladakh, the region will prosper and It will be beneficial for Gilgit.
Till recently, the entire world believed that the Line of Control was the actual Indo-Pak border and Gilgit-Baltistan was considered a Pakistani territory. But the picture is changing, for the last two years. India has started telling the world about its relations with Gilgit-Baltistan and POK. Now countries like the United States, England and France, having a veto right in the UN Security Council, have started saying that Gilgit-Baltistan and POK are not Pakistani territories. Initially, the United States was not willing to accept that Gilgit-Baltistan is a disputed territory. But Sering clarified that all this has changed now.
