Indian Media Highlights Pakistan’s Abuses in Gilgit-Baltistan

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On July 31, 2025, Indian media outlets, including Zee News and India.com, cited a report by the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI) titled “Pakistan Considers Gilgit-Baltistan A Burdensome Part Of Its Periphery – The Enduring Fallout Of The Karachi Agreement,” detailing systemic human rights abuses in Pakistan-administered Gilgit-Baltistan. The report highlights ongoing protests against land seizures, unjust taxation, and infrastructure neglect, underscoring Pakistan’s strategic exploitation of the region.

The MEMRI report, referenced by Zee News, reveals that residents of Gilgit-Baltistan, a 72,496-square-kilometer region, face chronic underdevelopment and lack basic rights. Protests, often in harsh winter conditions, demand land rights and oppose projects like the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which displaces locals without compensation. The 1949 Karachi Agreement, signed without regional representation, ceded control to Islamabad, subjecting Gilgit-Baltistan to decrees and colonial-era laws like the Frontier Crimes Regulation, denying civil liberties. India.com noted that Pakistan uses the region as a strategic asset, valuing its land over its 1.7 million people, who lack representation in the National Assembly.

The report cites the Karakoram Highway’s role in enabling an influx of weapons, narcotics, and militias, destabilizing Gilgit-Baltistan’s social fabric. A 1963 border agreement with China, ceding Hunza’s territory, further ignored local voices. MEMRI also highlighted Pakistan’s deployment of over 11,000 Chinese troops in the region, signaling a military alliance to counter Western influence, as per a 2011 New York Times report. Skardu, a key town, suffers 22-hour power outages in winter, relying on underperforming projects like the Satpara Dam, per Morung Express.

Indian media amplified these findings, with Zee News quoting MEMRI: “Pakistan’s governance reflects a colonial mindset, prioritizing control over development.” Social media posts on X, including by @MEMRIReports, reflect growing awareness of the issue. The report underscores Gilgit-Baltistan’s strategic importance, with its mineral wealth and proximity to China, yet its people remain sidelined, fueling demands for justice and self-determination.