Chapter 3 continues…

At a time when public solidarity in Pakistan was reported to be comparable to the heady days of 1965, this region remained under curfew for weeks in the immediate aftermath of the quake and over a dozen lives were lost in clashes between Pakistani Rangers and Shia students.

Historically, Northern Areas evolved as two separate political entities: Dardistan [or Gilgit], and Baltistan. Though there were times when they were part of the same political entity, the two political entities were eventually united during the Sikh rule and remained so during the subsequent Dogra rule.

Dardic Gilgit, whose language Dardic has Sanskrit/Pali roots, is a region that was part of the Mauryan Empire. According to Dr. Ahmed Dani, Ashoka’s fourteen rock edicts are still surviving along the Karakoram Highway. Subsequently, the region was conquered by the Kushanas and, on their subsequent decline, by the Huns. During 6th to 8th centuries, Gilgit was the home of the Patola rulers, who practiced Buddhism and had interactions with the rulers of Kashmir and the emperors of China. Apart from Kashmiri influence, the Tibetans also have influenced the culture of area.

Geopolitically, it is one of political and strategic importance with the opening of the Karakoram Highway, which links China to Pakistan and reportedly generates trade worth billions of dollars. The region, however, has become the stage for violent protests by the impoverished population of Northern Areas, which believes that their unique ethno-cultural and religious identity is being threatened. The alienation of the populace in Northern Areas is increasing and besides ethnicity has a strong sectarian undertone. Northern Areas territory is, thus, emerging as an “Achilees Heel” of Pakistani defence of Kashmir.

To be continued…