APROPOS the article ‘Vote for Integration’ (Aug16). The writer is of the view that “the forcible linkage of GB to the resolution of the Kashmir issue” has sealed the fate of GB forever. In an earlier article ‘Constitutional Rights for GB’ (May 2017), he critiqued the ‘infamous Karachi agreement’ signed between the leadership of Azad Jammu Kashmir and Pakistan in 1949, which had undermined the autonomy of the region and givenGilgit-Baltistan over to the direct control of the federal government. But the linkage of GB to Kashmir is not forcible. It implies that GB has never been a part of the state of Jammu and Kashmir, which is factually incorrect.

GB was under Dogra rule and was liberated by the Gilgit Scouts with the help of the people of GB. Later the other areas were taken over under the leadership of Aslam Khan (Colonel Pasha) of the Pakistan Army.

The writer needs to explain why GB was conflated in the ‘Karachi Agreement’ when there was no representative from GB to negotiate or sign the document. It created confusion for the leadership in GB and AJK.

The former blamed the latter for incompetence and the latter claims the territory of GB. On the other hand the people of GB signed an accession to Pakistan separately and unconditionally. If the accession was accepted then why is GB still being treated as part of the dispute? The reasons are strategic. If the plebiscite is conducted, the Muslim majority in GB and AJK will certainly vote for Pakistan. Hence the prospects of winning the referendum will be high. Instead of blaming each other, they should address the ‘powers to be’.

Sohail Akhtar

Islamabad

Published in Dawn, September 19th, 2020