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January 2019 Edition of Power Politics is updated.    Wishing You All a Happy New Year.       January 2019 Edition of Power Politics is updated.
Issue:January' 2018

BOOK BAZAAR

Lifting the veil of ignorance

M. R. Dua

More than 71 years ago, the princely state of Jammu and K a s h m i r o f f i c i a l l y acceded to India. But, as this book tells us, a significant chunk of this state, Gilgit- Baltistan, was stealthily and treacherously ‘stolen’ from India. It was handed over to Pakistan by ganging up by Pakistani invaders with two British army officers then in charge of administering this territory, Major W.A.
Brown and Cap A.S. Matheson. Though this strategically crucial north-western region was an integral part of J and K, nearly six times bigger than the already-illegally occupied area called POK – Pakistan- Occupied Kashmir. But, regrettably, precious little has been done by India to assert its claim on that ‘lost’ territory. In this book, author Alok Bansal ‘attempts to lift the veil of ignorance about this region and makes it a part of national strategic dialogue.’
Therefore, to attract national concern to this critically eminent issue is imperative, opines the author. The Pakistan government has recently been stridently endeavouring to tighten its grip on this area on which it has no legal and constitutional right.
In 2009 and 20018, (appendices A&B), the Islamabad authorities enacted two ‘legislative, executive and judicial orders (that Pakistan brands ‘reforms’) for granting self-governance to the people of Gilgit-Baltistan. Various political and civil offices have been created but all these are manned by personnel chosen, nominated and identified by the government in Islamabad; local people will have niggardly, zero voice in selecting or appointing them. Virtually, it’ll be the Pakistani president and prime minister who’ll rule the territory whose unqualified, unquestioned diktats only will prevail ultimately. Apparently, there’ll hardly be an iota of justice in the whole system for the Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) populace that consists of highly diverse, multi-cultural and multi-faith people, and little protection for the minorities.

Alok Bansal Meanwhile, both these ‘orders’ are aimed, as the texts say, at ‘providing for greater empowerment so as to bring GB at par with Pakistan’s other (four) provinces and to initiate necessary legislative, executive and judicial reforms.’ But, as the author underlines, the people have outright rejected these ‘orders.’ However, the brute Pakistani regime continues pouring atrocities on the beleaguered Baltis; particularly because the Shia sect forms a majority in the region. In addition, both ‘orders’ promise all kinds of rights to the people, but in reality, these are all talk and no substance whatsoever, asserts the author.

The book provides abundant evidence to the prodigious injustices being inflicted on the extremely impoverished people of Gilgit-Baltistan. It’s also ably supported by authoritative documents quoted from diverse sources in making a strong case for urgent action to rid people of the atrocities being bombarded on them. The book, however, leaves the reader somewhat perplexed and unconvinced as to what role could and should India play in this regard except that India could muster and mount a global appeal to the UN to take urgent measures to end these inflictions.

A large majority of the Baltis earnestly yearn to return to the Indian state of J&K. Besides, it’s a pity that despite the fact that the UN has passed a resolution asking Pakistan to vacate this territory, it has doggedly refused to abide by the international body’s plea.
It’s of special concern to India as GB is branded as the ‘crown of India’s map’, but it’s fast becoming a monstrous hub of the so-called ‘reforms’ because the Chinesesponsored $56-billion CPEC (China-Pakistan Economic Corridor) passes through this area, and thus the ‘success of the CPEC’s creation and existence will depend on tranquillity in the region.’
However, ironically, as this book highlights, the region is a hot-bed of turbulence and unceasing tumult because the people of the territory are being continuously meted out worst human rights violations.
There are killings, murders and abductions galore in the region. As the author points out, the main ‘cause of violence in Gilgit and surrounding areas is the simmering discontent...due to the absence of any genuine democratic and constitutional mechanism to resolve their problems.’ Though people suffer from worst inhuman discriminations, relentless deprivations, extreme poverty, illiteracy (male 85 per cent, female 3.5 per cent); continual scarcity of essential articles bedevil the masses. No alternatives for redressal of their grievances are available for the Baltis. Even Islamabad is extremely negligent, biased and indifferent to their plight.
As the ruthless Islamabad rule continues unabated, unhindered violations of Baltis’ basic human rights is a matter of the UN body responsible to look after and help take solid and concrete steps to curb the Pakistani regime’s nefarious activities and provide succour to the people.
The book provides abundant evidence to the prodigious injustices being inflicted on the extremely impoverished people of Gilgit-Baltistan.
It’s also ably supported by authoritative documents quoted from diverse sources in making a strong case for urgent action to rid people of the atrocities being bombarded on them. But the book leaves the reader somewhat perplexed and unconvinced as to what role could and should India play in this regard except that India could muster and mount a global appeal to the UN to take urgent measures to end these inflictions.
Meanwhile, it’s particularly noticeable that though the book’s text runs into just 137 pages, the citations and appendices cover over 154 pages. The bibliography could help readers and researchers.
Tight editing of the text and repetitive references to Pakistan’s acts of omission and commission irk the reader; for that country’s deliberate and intentional insouciance, heartlessness and apathy to the people of POK and Gilgit-Baltistan is notorious. Though the book has high academic merit, its high price could limit its sale.