THOUGH Gilgit-Baltistan has remained cut off from the rest of Pakistan since April 3 when sectarian violence engulfed different towns, the freeing of 34 hostages on Tuesday was a bit of good news to emerge from the troubled region. The hostages, which included government officials, were kidnapped in reaction to sectarian killings in Chilas. Their freedom was secured after local clerics got involved in mediation efforts. The episode shows that the region’s Shia and Sunni communities are willing to work together and attempt conflict resolution, and that much of the violence is orchestrated. Also, there is a distinction between reactive violence involving ordinary citizens and attempts to sabotage local peace by sectarian elements; this leads to a vicious cycle, and all that is needed to spark violence in the emotionally charged atmosphere of Gilgit-Baltistan is a trigger, which sectarian militants are more than willing to provide. True, local religious and political leaders can and should play a role in ensuring lasting peace. Yet if cycles of violence continue and perpetrators go unpunished, Gilgit-Baltistan society may be further radicalised and what the clerics, politicians and state say or do may not matter anymore.

While the release of hostages shows some initiative at the local level, actors on the national stage seem unconcerned over Gilgit-Baltistan’s plight. Political parties have remained mostly silent on the issue — the PPP dominates the region’s politics, yet it has come up with no substantive steps to resolve the ongoing crisis. The federal minister responsible for the region, Manzoor Wattoo, has also done little to address the problem, other than issue statements. Mr Wattoo or some other senior government functionary needs to visit the area to reassure the people that the state is concerned about their well-being.

This is especially important as the current bout of violence and the attendant curfew has paralysed life in the region and compounded the people’s miseries. The Karakoram Highway — the only pro-per road link to Gilgit-Baltistan — remains blocked while flights to Gilgit are not operating. Flights to Skardu, which has seen relatively less violence, are also unreliable due to treacherous weather, while the road link between Gilgit and Skardu remains closed. Transportation links need to be restored on an emergency basis to ensure that food, medicine and fuel start reaching the region; the military should be tasked with ensuring security for travellers on the KKH. The Gilgit-Baltistan situation is not just a law and order issue; the stakeholders need to address the area’s problems in a holistic manner to find a lasting solution and end the people’s recurring misery.