Thread by @JavedBeigh

STORY OF GILGIT BALTISTAN:

People of Skardu, largest city of GILGIT BALTISTAN, located only few kilometers away from India's KARGIL town is out on streets protesting for NO FOOD (massive shortage of Wheat) NO ELECTRICITY & massive LAND GRAB by outsiders

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Pakistan's only Shia/ Ismaili majority region:

GILGIT BALTISTAN or GB (formerly called "Northern Areas") is largest but less populous part of Pakistan Occupied Kashmir. It is Pakistan's only "Non-Sunni" (SHIA/ISMAILI) majority administrative region.

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But what is GILGIT BALTISTAN & who are people of GB? What is its history?

Are these people Koshur speaking Kashmiri Muslims ? Have they any connection with Kashmir Valley? Are these people Pashtun Muslims?

Apart from experts, common Indians don't have any idea about GB.

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Contrary to popular perception, people of GILGIT BALTISTAN are NOT Koshur speaking Kashmiri Muslims. They don't have anything common with Kashmiri Muslims.They are NOT even Pashtuns. People of GB are mix of Pamiri, Dardic & Ladakhi Muslim cultures, which is unique in itself.

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Linguistically, ethnically & racially, people of GILGIT BALTISTAN can be divided into 4 communities:

1. BALTI (close to Ladakhi Muslims);

2. DARDIC (Shina & Khowari people);

4. BURUSHASKI (isolated community); &

3. PAMIRI (Wakhi speaking Muslims close to Tajik Muslims).

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People of BALTISTAN:

BALTI are primarily Shia & Noorbakshia Muslim converts from Ladakhi Buddhist community.

India's KARGIL is part of this "divided BALTISTAN" and is often referred to as " SOUTH BALTISTAN" by Balti people. BALTI language is basically Persianized Ladakhi.

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NOORBAKSHIA Muslims of Baltistan and Ladakh are distinct Muslim sect. While, technically it is a SUFI SUNNI MUSLIM sect that traces its foundation to Mir Syed Ali Hamdani of Iran, Noorbakshia Islam also incorporates a lot of SHIA Muslim doctrines in its religious practices.

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People of GILGIT:

Gilgit is region of great ethnic diversity & comprises of following major communities:

1. SHINA speaking Shias & Sunnis

2. BURUSHASKI & WAKHI speaking Shia Ismailis.

Religiously, GILGIT region is almost equally divided among Shias, Sunnis & Ismailis.

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SHIA ISMAILI MUSLIMS of Gilgit are 3rd largest religious community of Gilgit Baltistan after Shias & Sunnis.

While related to Shias but unlike Twelver Shias, who follow 12 (medieval era) Shia Imams, Shia Ismailis follow His Highness AGA KHAN IV as their sprititual leader.

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SHIA ISMAILI of GILGIT constitute 25% of total population of entire GILGIT BALTISTAN and they are among most liberal, progressive & modern Muslims of South Asia. Their women don't wear Islamic veils & freely follow music, sports & other endeavors shunned by orthodox Muslims.

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SHINA SPEAKING SUNNI MUSLIMS of Gilgit:

Sunni SHINA speakers of Gilgit are most radicalized, Islamized & intolerant Muslim community of Gilgit Baltistan. Amanullah Khan, founder of Kashmir's first terrorist organization of JKLF was Sunni SHINA speaking Muslim from Astore.

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Nearly 60% of SHINA speakers of GB are SUNNI MUSLIMS. They
have strong ties with SUNNI PASHTUN Taliban terrorists from neighboring province of Khyber Pakhtunkhawa. Further, all terrorists from Gilgit Baltistan who operate in Kashmir Valley are also from SUNNI SHINA community

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Gilgit Baltistan is spectacularly beautiful region that is home to 5 mountain peaks above 8000 meters & 50 mountain peaks above 7000 meters. It is a region, where mighty Karakoram, Himalayas, Pamir & Hindu Kush mountains, all come together, making it earth's highest region.

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Gilgit Baltistan is home to two of world's top 10 peaks that includes K2, world's 2nd highest peak & Nanga Parbat, world's 9th highest peak. While K2 is part of gigantic Karakoram mountain range, Nanga Parbat (also visible from Kashmir Valley) is part of Western Himalayas.

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Gilgit Baltistan is resource rich region that is home to many longest mountain glaciers (even longer than those found in Alpine Europe & Andes mountains in South America) located outside polar region.These glaciers are reservoirs of billions of liters of precious fresh water.

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GB is world's most strategically located region surrounded by Tajikistan, Afghanistan (Wakhan corridor) and China's illegally occupied East Turkestan (Xinjiang).

GB provides Pakistan's ONLY LAND BORDER with CHINA. Without GB Pakistan will have NO LAND BORDER with CHINA.

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BALTISTAN region is home to SIACHIN GLACIER, world's longest mountain glacier located in Eastern Karakoram mountain range on LOC between India's Ladakh & Pakistan occupied Baltistan. India snatched SIACHIN from Pakistani illegal control in 1984 & since then it is with us.

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History of Gilgit Baltistan:

How did modern GB became part of modern princely state of J&K?

Credit of making Gilgit, Baltistan & Ladakh as part of J&K goes to Dogra Hindu Rajput dynasty from Jammu region, whose foundation was laid by legendary Maharaja Ghulab Singh Jamwal.

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Creation of GILGIT WAZARAT

After defeat in First Anglo-Sikh War, Sikh Maharaja Duleep Singh & British signed Treaty of Lahore that handed over control of territories of Sikh empire between Indus & Beas rivers to Dogra chieftain Ghulab Singh. This is how GILGIT came to J&K.

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Territories between Indus & Beas rivers included Gilgit town, Astore & Chillas. This was how GILGIT WAZARAT was created within princely state of Jammu & Kashmir ruled by Dogra Rajput Jamwal dynasty. Later small principalities of Hunza & Nagar also joined GILGIT WAZARAT.

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Conversion of GILGIT WAZARAT to GILGIT AGENCY:

British Indian Government was wary of Russian expansion into British India.Present day Tajikistan bordering GILGIT was part of Russian Empire in 1800s. Thus British Government "took over" GILGIT & established its "Agency" there.

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"GREAT GAME" referring to colonial rivalry between Russian & British Empire led to artificial establishment of British controlled "Gilgit Agency" in middle of GILGIT WAZARAT. A British political agent was sent to report to Delhi on this remote outpost of British Indian Empire

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General ZORAWAR SINGH & CONQUEST of Ladakh & Baltistan

While GILGIT part of GB became part of DOGRA kingdom via Treaty of Lahore, sub regions of Ladakh & Baltistan were merged into princely state of Jammu & Kashmir via military expeditions led by Dogra General Zorawar Singh

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General ZORAWAR SINGH, referred to as "Napoleon of East" was a brave Dogra Rajput warrior, who led successfull military campaigns, first to (Buddhist) Ladakh & then to Baltistan (Muslim Ladakh) & made these regions a part of DOGRA princely state of Jammu & Kashmir.

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How India lost strategic Gilgit Baltistan:

When in 1947, British granted freedom to India on 15th August & created Pakistan on 14th August, Gilgit Wazarat had Brigadier GHANSARA SINGH as administrator appointed by DOGRA King Hari Singh, then ruler of princely state of J&K.

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In addition to small regiment of royal J&K army consisting of mostly Hindu & Sikh soldiers, there was paramilitary regiment of locals called GILGIT SCOUTS commandered by British Major William Brown. He was to play crucial role in facilitating GILGIT's merger to Pakistan.

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Unraveling of princely state of Jammu & Kashmir began on October 22, 1947 when Pakistan sent a horde of armed SUNNI PASHTUN tribesmen into Kashmir Valley to "liberate" Kashmir.These tribesmen unleased an orgy of death & rape on helpless Sikh & Hindu residents of North Kashmir

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Pakistan gave instructions to these SUNNI PASHTUN MUSLIM men from Pashtun areas around GILGIT to enter Kashmir & kill any Hindu, Sikh or Christian they could find & loot them and rape & abduct Hindu & Sikh women as "war booty". These Sunni Pashtun unleased terror in Kashmir.

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TREACHERY OF MAJOR WILLIAM BROWN:

Major Brown played most damaging role in loss of Gilgit and Baltistan for India.

Just 10 days after Pakistani push of Sunni Pashtuns in Kashmir Valley, GILGIT SCOUTS under leadership of Major William Brown "rebelled" against DOGRA rule.

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GHANSARA SINGH's forced SURRENDER

Major Brown along with Gilgit's head of police & local commander of Maharaja Hari Singh's army threatened to kill all Hindu & Sikh residents & soldiers stationed in Gilgit town, if Ghansara Singh didn't surrender. He was forced to surrender.

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An "independent GILGIT" only for 16 days:

After surrender of Ghansara Singh, pro-independence nationalist forces of GILGIT declared Raja Shah Rais Khan as President & Mirza Hassan Khan as the Commander-in-Chief of "Independent Gilgit". This however lasted only for 16 days.

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Dismissing nationalist forces of GILGIT, Punjabi Sunni ruling elite sent its own political agent Khan Mohammad Alam Khan to "take over" administration of Gilgit. This was just beginning of Punjabi Sunni ruling elites' treating Shias & Ismailis of GB as second class citizens.

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Gilgit Scouts capture BALTISTAN:

After fall of GILGIT, troups of Gilgit Scouts soon captured Skardu city, Kargil town, Drass town & even Zojila pass that links Kashmir Valley with Ladakh within next few months.

Pakistan was now eyeing to capture Buddhist majority LEH.

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India's battle to secure LEH:

After Maharaja Hari Singh signed instrument of accession, Indian army landed at Srinagar. Fearing that Punjabi Muslims of Pakistan would capture & butcher all Buddhists of Leh, Indian army moved to take back Zojila pass & Kargil from Pakistanis.

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Indian army surprised Punjabi Muslim army of Pakistan when it managed to take herctanks at height of over 11,000 ft & snatched Zojila Pass, Drass & Kargil towns back from Pakistan & secured land route from Kashmir Valley to Buddhist LEH, thereby linking LEH with rest of India

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After Indian army landed in Srinagar, it soon snatched Zojila pass & Kargil back from Pakistanis, which secured Buddhist Leh. It now planned to snatch Skardu & rest of Baltistan from Pakistan, but Indian PM Jawahar Lal Nehru took Kashmir issue to UN & ceasefire was announced.

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SLAVERY OF SHIAS & ISMAILI MUSLIM OF GB UNDER PUNJABI SUNNI MUSLIMS OF PAKISTAN BEGINS:

Infamous "Karachi Agreement" of 1949:

People of GB mark 28 April, 1949 as "Black Day" as it was on this day PUNJABI SUNNI MUSLIMS of Pakistan deprived them of their constitutional rights

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Karachi Agreement was SECRET agreement between Punjabi Muslim ruling elite of Pakistan & leaders of so called "Azad Kashmir" that transfered administration of GB from Azad Kashmir to Islamabad. Shockingky, there was no one from GB in this meeting that decided future of GB.

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People of GB thought that PAKISTAN will make GB its full fledged province & they will get all rights of citizens, but under "Karachi Agreement", Punjabi Sunni Muslim elite "suspended" legal status of Gilgit & Baltistan regions till resolution of so called "Kashmir dispute".

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Most importantly, "Karachi Agreement" entailed that Pakistani Constitution was not to be extended to GB.

GB was to be humiliatingly ruled by so called LEGAL FRAME WORK ORDER under a lowly Punjabi Sunni Muslim politician serving as head of "Ministry of Kashmir Affairs".

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More INSULTS were thrown by Sunni Punjabi Muslim elite towards people of GB:

In a humiliating move, Pakistani state extended notorious & much hated British era colonial law called Frontier Crime Regulations or FCR (imposed by British on lawless Pashtun tribal areas) to GB.

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FCR declared people of GB as "uncivilized & barbaric" and laid collective fines & punishments for crimes committed in GB. There was no right to appeal & people of GB were made to report to police every time they would travel outside. In short, they were treated as criminals.

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Pakistan "gifts" entire Valley of GB to CHINA for free:

In 1963, in an outrageous and unprecedented move Punjabi Sunni Muslim ruling elite in Islamabad "gifted" entire Shaksgam Valley, part of GB to CHINA without consulting or even informing people of GB.

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Strategically located Shaksgam Valley was formerly part of Shigar district of BALTISTAN region.

In a humiliating move for people of Gilgit Baltistan, Punjabi Sunni Muslim elite ceded entire Shaksgam Valley to CHINA to essentially secure Pakistan's military ties with CHINA.

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Scrapping of State Subject Rule & attempt to alter Shia/Ismaili majority of GB:

In 1970s there began a DANGEROUS GAME of changing SHIA & ISMAILI majority demography of GB by Punjabi Sunni Muslim ruling elite. Accordingly in 1976, Pakistan scrapped State Subject Rule in GB.

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GB (earlier called "Northern Areas") had same State Subject Rule (SSR) as Jammu & Kashmir. But Pakistani Sunni Punjabi Muslim elite scrapped it with an aim to reduce Shia & Ismaili majority of GB by settling radical Sunni Muslim Pashtuns from neighboring Khyber Pakhtunkhawa.

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SHINA speaking GILGIT town had almost equal population of SHINA speaking SUNNIS & SHIAS. After scrapping of SSR, large number of radical Deobandi Sunni Pashtuns were settled in GILGIT from KPK.
Soon Shia & Ismaili population of GB reduced from 85% before 1947 to 60% in 2000s

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THE GREAT 1988 SHIA MASSACRE OF GILGIT:

With Zia ul Haq's Sunni Deobandi radical Islamization programe introduced in 80s, things deteriorated for SHIAS all over Pakistan as they began being butchered in target killings & massacres.

WORST happened in GILGIT town in 1988.

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In 1988, a minor dispute over sighting of Eid-ul-Fitr Moon between Shias & Sunnis of Gilgit led to attack by Sunnis on Shias of Gilgit. When Shias of Gilgit retaliated, Punjabi President of Pakistan, Zia ul Haq sent Pashtun Taliban irregulars from Chilas to GB to crush Shias.

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Zia ul Haq sent Arab Sunni radical terrorist OSAMA BIN LADEN along with Pashtun Talibans to Gilgit to teach local Shias a "lesson". Same Osama was to earn notoriety for his role in 9/11 attacks in NYC & whom Pakistani state sheltered in secrecy till he was killed by USA.

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Horrendous massacre of Shias; Gangrapes of Shia women & burning down Shia Imambarghas:

For 10 days, Giltgit town & its surroundings was drenched in blood of innocent Shia men, women & children as SUNNI PASHTUN tribesmen under leadership of OSAMA painted Gilgit town in red.

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An estimated 900 to 2000 Shias were massacred in GILGIT by SUNNI radicals in Pakistani STATE SPONSORED POGROM.

Shia girls & women were gang raped infront of their male family members by SUNNI radicals. Even older Shia mothers were raped in front of their sons & grand sons.

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PASHTUN SUNNI radicals burnt down nearly all Shia mosques & Imambargahs including older mosques. Even holy Quran in Shia Imambargahs were burnt & torn by declaring them as "Shia Qurans". Uncountable number of younger Shia girls were abducted & taken to KPK as "sex slaves".

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SHINA speaking massacred SHIAS of Gilgit weren't nameless & faceless ? Here are few of SHINA speaking SHIA men, who were massacred in 1988 Pakistani SUNNI State sponsored program.

Unfortunately SHINA speaking SUNNIS of Gilgit collaborated in massacre of SHINA speaking SHIAS.

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1988 Gilgit Shia massacre was not an isolated incident of SHIA butchery in Pakistan. Shias have been killed in massacres & daily target killing in Pakistan since introduction of Zia ul Haq's Islamisation program that has resulted in killing of 40,000 Shias in last 30 years.

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Kohistan Shia Massacre 2012

In 2012, 17 Shia men traveling in from Rawalpindi, Punjab to Gilgit were dragged out by horde of marauding Sunni Pashtun terrorists in Kohistan region of KPK & then gunned down brutally after identifying their Shia identity through their ID cards.

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MASSACRE OF SHIAS OF KARGIL BY PARVEZ MUSHARRAF DURING KARGIL WAR:

Pakistani President Parvez Musharraff (of Indian Sunni "Mohajir" origin) is cursed & hated by SHIAS of India's KARGIL as "Butcher of Shias". He is held responsible for loss of innocent Shia lives in KARGIL.

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General Parvez Musharaff was architect of armed standoff between India & Pakistan, when he orchestrated illegal capture of Indian positions in Kargil's Drass town during winter of 1999 when entire area is buried under snow & soldiers from both sides go back to ground stations

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Town of KARGIL, a beautiful Shia majority Indian city was ruthlessly targeted by Pakistan in 1999 KARGIL WAR. Shias of KARGIL played crucial role in India's victory in KARGIL war. It was Shias of KARGIL, who first reported Pakistani capture of Indian positions to Indian army.

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Shias of Kargil town also provided crucial support to Indian army by acting as "pithhus" by manually carrying tonnes of food, ration & heavy arms & ammunition on their backs & supplying them directly to battlefield, where Indian soldiers were fighting battle with Pakistanis.

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Bombing of civilian targets in Kargil town by Pakistan:

General Parvez Musharraf took "revenge" by direct bombing of civilian areas of Kargil town. SHIA men, women & children of Kargil town were blown to pieces in relentless bombing on Shia homes, schools, hospitals etc.

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Let SHIAS KILL each other on both sides:

What pained Shias of Kargil most was that SUNNI Parvez Musharaff used soldiers of Northern Light Infantry Regiment (NLIR), a Pakistani paramilitary force comprised of Shias & Ismailis of GB to bomb India's Shia majority KARGIL town.

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No dignity for dead Shia & Ismaili soldiers of NLIR:

Thousands of Shia & Ismaili soldiers of NLIR from GB were killed in Kargil war standoff. PAKISTANI army (mostly Sunni Muslim Punjabis) under General Parvez Musharaff refused to take dead bodies of killed Shia soldiers.

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These Shia & Ismaili soldiers of NLIR from GB were honorably & respectfully buried by Indian Army as per Islamic rituals.

Shias of KARGIL saw with their own eyes as to what worth is there in a radicalized Sunni majority Pakistan for its Shia & Ismaili Muslim residents.

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Present day GILGIT BALTISTAN:

Since last 3 decades, GB has been witnessing myriad of problems apart from increase in sectarian divide. These include massive land grab by outsiders; negative environmental & economic impact of Chinese CEPAC & harassment under draconian laws.

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Harassment of people of GB under draconian laws:

Political dissent in GILGIT BALTISTAN has been crushed largely through draconian 4th Schedule of Anti Terrorism Act, 1947, under which hundreds of activists, artists, students and other civilians are rotting in jail.

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4th Schedule of Anti Terrorism Act is a dreaded "watch list", which is used by Punjabi Sunni Muslim ruling elite from Islamabad & their political stooges in GB to threaten & intimidate political & social activists of GB in silence and obedience. Anyone resisting pays price.

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Massive land grab by outsiders;
construction of environmentally devastating DAMS & INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS; &
dubious Chinese projects are causing chaos in GB as locals don't get any tangible economic benefits & GB's fragile environmental conditions deteriorate fast.

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Much politicized 3 decade old & still incomplete construction on concrete filled DIAMER BHASHA DAM on border between KPK & GB has been panned by activists from GB as "useless vanity" project that has no economic benefit & only damaging environmentally impact for GB region.

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Construction of DAMS & other massive INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS like Diamer Bhasha dam as well as China backed China Pakistan Economic Corridor CPEC project have invariably involved massive LAND GRABS by outsiders including rich Punjabi Muslims & big Chinese companies.

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Pakistan's much touted CEPAC, which is 100% dependent upon GB's land border with China occupied Xinjiang province (real name East Turkestan) has already been criticized by people of GB for not generating any promised jobs & severely impacting environment of GB.

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Punjabi Muslim Lollipop of:
5th Province of Pakistan ?
"Provisional Province" of Pakistan ?

4 generations of people of GB died since 1947, desiring "merger" with Pakistan, which never happened. Many politicians came & went, but no one gave any importance to will of GB.

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Under garb of "reforms" politicians from mainland Pakistan have given rubber stamp "assembly" to people of GB which has power to legislate on lesser subjects than any Indian Municipality.

And promise of making GB "5th Province"/Provisional Province remains only a promise.

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Loss of Gilgit Baltistan was a catastrophic loss for India. It gave Punjabi Muslims of Pakistan land border with China, which otherwise Pakistan would never have. It also destroyed & ruined beautiful & strategic SHIA & ISMAILI majority region under brutal SUNNI supremofacism.

75/75 (Last Part)

This is latest map of Union Territories of J&K and Ladakh, which includes GB as part of "Greater Ladakh".

This should however not just remain a map. Gilgit & Baltistan is part of India and our Ladakh is INCOMPLETE without it.

WE MUST TAKE IT BACK

JAI HIND.