In recent years, Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) has become the focus of deliberate misinformation campaigns aimed at undermining Pakistan’s sovereignty. Voices like Aun Baltistani, funded by external forces with vested interests, propagate a distorted narrative to create unrest and separatist sentiments. Their objective is clear: to disrupt Pakistan’s stability by sowing discord in its strategically significant regions. However, an objective analysis of GB’s reality counters these falsehoods and highlights the substantial progress made in governance, development, and national integration.
Separatist propaganda often portrays GB as a neglected and oppressed region, deprived of its fundamental rights. This claim disregards the substantial political and economic reforms undertaken in the last decade. The Gilgit-Baltistan Order 2018 granted the region autonomy in legislative affairs, further strengthening self-governance. The elected government in GB enjoys control over local administrative matters, with increasing financial and infrastructural support from Islamabad. The absence of full provincial status is not a sign of suppression but a constitutional and strategic consideration, one that remains a subject of active national debate. Contrary to false claims of marginalization, GB has received billions in development funds, particularly under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Key projects, including road networks, energy infrastructure, and educational institutions, are transforming the region’s socio-economic landscape. The Karakoram Highway expansion and hydropower projects have significantly improved connectivity and energy supply, directly benefiting the local population.
A critical aspect of the anti-state campaign is the deliberate exploitation of sectarian and ethnic divides. The portrayal of GB as a victim of Sunni hegemony is a divisive tactic, aimed at fueling internal discord. The reality, however, is that GB enjoys a unique blend of diverse ethnic and religious identities that coexist peacefully. While challenges exist, as they do in any multi-ethnic society, the Pakistani state has taken measures to ensure harmony through inclusive policies and representation. The misleading narrative pushed by Aun Baltistani and other anti-state actors attempts to frame GB’s Shia-majority population as an oppressed community under Pakistani rule. This rhetoric not only misrepresents the ground realities but also serves foreign agendas that thrive on sectarian strife. Pakistan’s commitment to protecting the religious freedoms of all its citizens, including those in GB, remains unwavering.
Another key falsehood spread by separatist elements is the notion that GB’s natural resources are being exploited without benefiting its residents. While it is true that GB possesses immense untapped potential in minerals, hydropower, and tourism, the claim that these resources are being unfairly extracted is misleading. The federal government has initiated various joint ventures and infrastructure projects to uplift GB’s economy, ensuring local job creation and long-term prosperity. Under CPEC, special economic zones and industrial development plans are in the pipeline to empower GB’s workforce. Additionally, tourism initiatives have witnessed a remarkable surge, positioning GB as a prime travel destination. These developments directly contradict the portrayal of GB as a region deliberately kept underdeveloped.
Separatist groups often resort to exaggerated claims of human rights violations in GB to gain international sympathy. Allegations of enforced disappearances and suppression of political activism lack substantial evidence and are designed to provoke anti-state sentiments. The Pakistani government has actively promoted democratic processes in GB, ensuring that the region’s leadership is chosen through electoral means. Moreover, judicial reforms have been introduced to strengthen the legal framework, ensuring protection of citizens’ rights. Western-funded NGOs and human rights organizations are often manipulated to amplify these baseless accusations, ignoring Pakistan’s efforts to improve governance and human rights standards in GB. The selective outrage over alleged human rights violations serves a geopolitical agenda rather than genuine concern for the people of GB.
The anti-state campaign against GB is not organic—it is fueled by external actors with clear geopolitical motives. India, in particular, has been at the forefront of spreading misinformation regarding GB, attempting to link it with its claims over Jammu and Kashmir. By portraying GB as a region yearning for independence, Indian propaganda seeks to delegitimize Pakistan’s stance on Kashmir at international forums. Additionally, Western strategic interests often align with narratives that seek to destabilize Pakistan, given its central role in regional connectivity projects. Voices like Aun Baltistani, with questionable funding sources, serve as convenient tools in this larger geopolitical play.
The subversive narrative targeting Gilgit-Baltistan is a well-orchestrated campaign that relies on misinformation and distortion of facts. While challenges exist, the progress made in governance, infrastructure, and social development contradicts the claims of oppression and marginalization. The people of GB remain integral to Pakistan’s national fabric, and their future lies in further integration, economic uplift, and political representation—not in the separatist illusions peddled by external forces. It is imperative to counter this propaganda with facts, ensuring that Gilgit-Baltistan’s true story is heard loud and clear.