Brussels, Nov 5 (IANS) Some members of the European Parliament have expressed “great concern” over Pakistan imposing its rule in Gilgit Baltistan rather than allowing the people to decide their political future.
The EU members have formed a group called “Friends of Gilgit-Baltistan”, which will “monitor very carefully all developments that take place” in the strategic border region, a part of the Pakistan-administered Kashmir where elections for its first assembly are scheduled Nov 12.

“I, and other members of the European Parliament, have decided to take the initiative to set up in the European Parliament a group that shall henceforth be called Friends of Gilgit-Baltistan,” EU parliamentarian Jürgen Creutzmann, of the Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe, said in a press statement.

“It is a matter of great concern for us that the future of Gilgit-Baltistan is being determined not by the people but by the government of Pakistan under its constitution, even though Gilgit-Baltistan is not mentioned in Pakistan’s constitution as part of its territory,” Creutzmann said.

The resource-rich territory, part of the erstwhile undivided Jammu and Kashmir, has seen a separatist movement gaining momentum over the past few years.

Alarmingly low literacy levels, the absence of industry, deplorable road and communication links, poor energy sources and the lack of job opportunities have fuelled rebellion in the region, which was part of Jammu and Kashmir before Pakistan militarily occupied some parts in 1948.

Creutzmann said, “The future of Gilgit-Baltistan should be so determined by the people that the region does not replicate the polity of Pakistan which has unfortunately been marked by growing fundamentalism, extremism and terrorism.”

“It is our belief that the people of Gilgit-Baltistan should be allowed to fashion their future in a manner that their region does not become another territory for the spread of fundamentalist and extremist tendencies,” he said.

“It is believed the ethos of the people of Gilgit-Baltistan has far more in common with the ethos of Jammu and Kashmir than Pakistan,” the parliamentarian added.