Movements of Autonomy in Gilgit Baltistan: Domestic Pressure and International Implications

Abstract

Gilgit-Baltistan, a region situated at the crossroad of South and Central Asia has a geopolitical importance, due to its link to the unresolved issue of Kashmir and its strategic position within the project of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Since independence, the region exists in a state of constitutional ambiguity due to its historical association with the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir. However, this ambiguity caused a complexities interplay between development, identity, and governance, intensifying local demands for autonomy and accountability. To understand these complexities, the thesis focuses on the dynamics of autonomy movements in Gilgit-Baltistan, exploring how domestic political pressure and international developments shaped the region’s quest for constitutional identity. The study examines some projects such as CPEC, Diamer-Basha Dam and mining venture that somehow amplified grievance related to resource exploitation, environmental degradation, and exclusion from decision making process. Some of the local autonomy movements such as the Awami Action Committee (AAC) and the Balawaristan National Front (BNF) emerged as a critical voices and significant platforms demanding constitutional right, full-fledged provincial status, and control over the natural resources. These autonomy movements are not rooted in separatism but a struggle for inclusive governance and recognition within Pakistan.