In the mineral-rich terrains of Pakistan-occupied Gilgit-Baltistan, a battle brews over rare earth elements as Islamabad invites global players to tap the bounty. Beyond longstanding Chinese involvement, U.S. and Central Asian companies are now being wooed, according to a bombshell report from Washington-based experts.
Kazakhstan and Indonesia have signaled investments in gold and copper operations, amplifying concerns. Residents point to the Pakistani army’s aggressive tactics, enforcing an unconstitutional land reform that strips locals of resource shares. Demands for royalties are rebuffed with claims of disputed Jammu-Kashmir status blocking ownership rights.
Leading voice Senge Sering, president of the Institute for Gilgit-Baltistan Studies, paints a vivid picture in Global Strat View. PoGB’s geography diversifies global rare earth supply chains dominated by few nations. Renowned mineral hotspots in Tangir and surrounding valleys brim with vital elements like neodymium for tech and thorium for energy.
China’s belt-and-road upgrades bolster Pakistan’s ambitions to make PoGB a pivotal hub. Yet Sering calls for resistance: ‘Locals must unite to expel Pakistani overlords fixated on riches and routes, ignoring constitutional rights. Such determination secures a future within India’s Ladakh framework.’
Fresh unrest hit Diamer with an IED attack killing one and wounding an army major and two others. Experts tie it to militants decrying army ‘divide and rule’ policies, alleging staged sectarian violence against figures like Aga Rahat to fracture communities.