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India concerned over situation in Gilgit
Rajeev Sharma
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 25
India today upped the ante on Jammu and Kashmir when it formally expressed concern on the situation in Gilgit, capital of Northern Areas, which is in the grip of renewed sectarian violence since October 11.

This is the first time in years when New Delhi has gone on record to express concern over the deteriorating concern in parts of Jammu and Kashmir, which are under the administrative control of Pakistan. The Indian reaction comes at a time when it is in the midst of a quake diplomacy and is sending a high-level official delegation to Pakistan on October 28 to discuss ways to open up the Line of Control for more prompt and effective earthquake relief disbursal.

Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Navtej Sarna, when asked to comment on reports that Pakistani forces were acting against the local population, came out with a response which might well be a pointer of things to come. He said: “Yes, we have noted with concern reports in the Pakistan media about a curfew being imposed in Gilgit and action taken by the Pakistani forces against the people in that region. There is a history of sectarian conflict in the Gilgit and Baltistan regions of Jammu and Kashmir and of severe repressive measures being taken against legitimate protests and demonstrations. We hope that the Pakistani forces will act with utmost restraint and observe international human rights standards. We will keep the situation under close watch.”

Gilgit is again bleeding where 15 persons have died in separate incidents of sectarian violence since October 11. Twelve persons, including a Ranger, were killed on October 13 during clashes with Shia students and Rangers. Earlier these students had held a demonstration demanding the release of a colleague Manzoor Changezi who was arrested by the Rangers and was now believed to have been killed.

The Rangers were the most hated lot in Gilgit-Baltistan. The Shias were especially hostile to the ISI as this very agency had been responsible for dividing and suppressing the people of Northern Areas. Protestors were demanding the immediate removal of the Rangers towards Shia community.

Fatalities since January 2005, when Shia cleric Agha Ziauddin Rizvi and 18 others were killed in Gilgit, had now crossed more than 100. Since October 13, Gilgit had been under curfew.

Gilgit, Baltistan and some other towns form Northern Areas, were basically part of Jammu and Kashmir but Pakistan Government had kept them under its direct control despite Pakistan Supreme Court’s order. The people of Northern Areas had been living in virtual serfdom since 1949. The people were deprived of their basic rights. This part of land was being treated just as colony of Pakistan. The Northern Areas Council was the highest elected body here, but it had no power, no Speaker and leader of the House.