A scathing report from Washington reveals how Pakistan is cloaking its harsh control tactics in Gilgit-Baltistan behind a veil of religious rhetoric. Analyst Senge Sering contends that this ploy distracts from efforts to dismantle local culture and exploit the region’s mineral wealth and strategic location.
Regional dynamics add urgency: a full-scale Iran-Arab war could endanger Pakistan’s Shia population, positioning integration with India as a viable escape from outdated partition ideologies for Gilgit-Baltistan’s people.
The Karakoram Highway faces unprecedented threats beyond natural disasters, fueled by local volatility. Post the killing of Iran’s supreme leader, riots engulfed Gilgit and Skardu, spiraling out of control.
March 1 saw Pakistani troops shoot into crowds, claiming 18 lives – eight of them children. Curfews followed amid reports of protesters killing two soldiers and setting fire to army assets.
Security forces are raiding homes at night, detaining suspects linked to alleged Iranian religious groups, even as Ramadan unfolds. Secret detention centers hold those who challenge authority or rally support.
High-profile detainees include advocates Ehsan Ali and Nafis, engineer Mahboob, and activists Fida Issar, Taruf Abbas, Sheikh Yusuf, Nazar Kazmi, and Shabbir Mayar.
This crackdown suppresses growing dissent, as Pakistan juggles expectations from the US and Saudi Arabia for anti-Iran military backing. Intelligence sharing and media campaigns demonize Tehran, while narratives twist India-Iran ties and inflame Hindu hatred at home to serve broader aims.
The report underscores a region teetering on the edge, where religious manipulation masks deeper power plays with implications for South Asian stability.