India oppose Pakistani SC move on Gilgit-Baltistan

Why in news?

• India summoned a Pakistani diplomat and protested against a recent order of the Supreme Court of Pakistan that brought the region of Gilgit-Baltistan within its ambit.
• A press note from the External Affairs Ministry said the diplomat was told that the region was, and would remain, an integral part of India. 

Strong protest

• The Deputy High Commissioner of Pakistan was summoned and a strong protest was lodged on recent order by Supreme Court of Pakistan on the so-called ‘Gilgit-Baltistan’, which is an interference in India’s internal affairs.
• The response came after the Pakistani court said in an order on Thursday that Gilgit-Baltistan came within its domain.
• It was delivering its comments after the Government of Pakistan ordered constitutional safeguards for the region which previously was not given these safeguards explicitly. 

Islamabad’s move

• Pakistan in recent months had taken a series of steps to ensure full constitutional and legal guarantees to the region which was strategically important for the country especially in view of the passage of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor through the region.
• India rejected such continued attempts by Pakistan to bring material change in these occupied territories and to camouflage grave human rights violations, exploitation and sufferings of the people living there.
• Pakistan was asked to immediately vacate all areas under its illegal occupation as India did not recognise the observations of the Pakistan Supreme Court.

Gilgit-Baltistan and OBOR

• As China opened one of its biggest foreign policy initiatives since 1949 – the One Belt One Road (OBOR) summit in Beijing, which is being attended by heads of state and government of over 23 nations, including Pakistan, protests broke out in Gilgit-Baltistan against the ongoing construction of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project under the Belt and Road initiative.
• Various students and political organisations including Karakoram Students Organisation, Balawaristan National Students Organisation, Gilgit Baltistan United Movement and Balawaristan National Front have been protesting against OBOR in Gilgit, Hunza, Skardu and Ghizer.
• They described the project as an illegal attempt to grab Gilgit and see it as a “Road of Gulami or Slavery for Gilgit-Baltistan “.
• Protestors across Gilgit see the CPEC and OBOR as a ploy by China to take over their territory. Carrying placards and banners stating ” Stop Chinese Imperialism ” protestors have been calling on the World Community to stop this Chinese transgression on Gilgit’s soil which remains disputed since 1948-49.
• They claimed that China has entered Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) illegally with the help of Pakistan, adding that a well-conceived two-pronged strategy has been put in place to facilitate continued Chinese military presence in Pakistan and to counter the United States through .
• Both China and Pakistan have crushed the legitimate concerns of the people of the region, violating their human rights to achieve CPEC 

(International)(The hindu. Business standard)

Pic courtesy-dunyanews.tv