Do not hold elections in Gilgit-Baltistan and challenge India - local analysts warn Pakistan govt

Glasgow: – The decision of the Imran Khan government to hold elections, in Gilgit-Baltistan and declare it as the fifth Pakistan province, is facing resistance from within Pakistan. These tones of resistance are emanating from Imran Khan’s party. Criticism is rife that Imran Khan is holding elections in Gilgit-Baltistan under pressure from China. Whereas, the leaders from Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK) and Gilgit-Baltistan have threatened to revolt against elections. Meanwhile, only a month ago, India had warned that Gilgit-Baltistan along with POK, legitimately belongs to India and Pakistan, should vacate this region.

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan announced that elections would be held in Gilgit-Baltistan on the 15th of November. Imran Khan announced a list of 20 candidates for the polls. But the concerned decision is being criticised from the within his Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party itself. It has been revealed that the Pakistan Prime Minister has published this list, after seeking approval from the Chinese embassy in Islamabad. The PTI leaders infuriated by this, have threatened a rebellion in Gilgit-Baltistan and have threatened to contest elections against the candidates of their party. Whereas, local leaders Sajjad Raja, Ibrahim Nagri, Muhammed Sharif Khan have said that the elections are a show and have raised a flag of rebellion against the Imran Khan government. Muhammed Sharif Khan claimed that the locals also would turn their backs on these elections.

Accusations are being made that Prime Minister Imran Khan and the military are conducting elections in Gilgit-Baltistan, succumbing to Chinese pressure. The Pakistan government was not successful in doing anything significant, after India abrogated article 370 and article 35A, awarding special status to Jammu-Kashmir. It is being accused that Imran Khan is taking this decision to avert this miserable failure. But the opposition leaders in Pakistan, are expressing a concern that Pakistan will have to face dire consequences of this decision. Whereas, some of the analysts are warning that India can use this decision in an entirely different way and a situation will be created that Pakistan will lose Gilgit-Baltistan along with POK.

India has already warned that Pakistan will have to face the consequences if it holds elections in Gilgit-Baltistan. Against this background, journalists from Pakistan are asking whether the Imran Khan government has made the necessary preparations, before deciding Gilgit-Baltistan. There has been a meteoric rise in the Indian influence on the international level. The Pakistani analysts are pointing out that therefore, no country or international institutions had directly opposed the withdrawal of special status awarded to Jammu-Kashmir by India. These journalists and analysts believe that it is better to avoid the Gilgit-Baltistan adventure in the current situation.