Protests held in Giglit-Baltistan on PM remarks

Protests were held in parts of Gilgit-Baltistan on Friday against Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent statement on the northern-most hilly region of Jammu and Kashmir held by Pakistan, the local media reported.

Gilgit-Baltistan is part of Jammu and Kashmir, often denoted by the acronym J&K, as it existed in August 1947 in its entirety, is claimed by India as being part of the state and it is in turn an integral part of the country.

Mr Modi, in the backdrop of Islamabad’s supporting the ongoing unrest in Kashmir Valley, in his Independence Day speech took an aim at what he called supporters of “terrorism”.

He also said, “People of Balochistan, Gilgit and PoK (Pakistan-occupied Kashmir) have thanked me a lot a in the past few days, I am grateful to them.”

He was referring to his speaking earlier on the “plight” of the people of these regions and their “political struggles” against Islamabad’s rule.

But on Friday many people, including students, took to the streets in some parts of Gilgit-Baltistan, including Astore, Hunza and Gorikot, to protest against Mr Modi’s remarks. The participants of one of these protests were carrying a banner in Urdu that read “Indian aggression; not acceptable, not acceptable”.

These protests were organised by Pakistan’s ruling Muslim League (Nawaz) and regional Awami Action Committee, the media reports said.

In Balochistan, civil society activists and different political organisations had earlier on Thursday staged rallies in Dera Bugti, Lasbela, Naushki, Chaghai, Khuzdar, Naseerabad, Jaffarabad, Kohlu, Dera Allahyar, Dadhar, Sibi and Bolan areas against Mr Modi’s remarks, Pakistani media reported.