Pakistan is currently attempting to grant provisional provincial status to Gilgit-Baltistan, an essential region located in the highly disputed Kashmir. Following Pakistan’s recent election, the PTI party is poised to act on their campaign promise of establishing Pakistani government in Gilgit-Baltistan. Kashmir is currently fully claimed by both India and Pakistan, however it retains semi-autonomous status, and is divided into different areas of administration between the states. Gilgit-Baltistan is an essential region for Pakistan, because it contains a key link between Pakistan and their regional ally, China– the China Pakistan Economic Corridor passes through there and is worth $65B. However, Pakistan is meeting rejection from India, with India claiming that Gilgit-Baltistan is a part of their Jammu-Kashmir area of control. (India recently divided Kashmir into two federal areas of full administration, revoking their semi-autonomous status. Gilgit-Baltistan falls under their control, according to their new laws of administration). Pakistan has rejected India’s statement with equal strength, claiming that it is the wish of the native populace of Gilgit-Baltistan to be under fuller Pakistani control.
According to the UN Security Council (a section of the UN IGO devoted to international security issues), Kashmir has the right to hold a plebiscite (direct vote on a public question) to ultimately decide the outcome of autonomy issues, such as the current question of Pakistani control. Kashmir has historically faced extreme power struggles between Pakistan and India because of its position and resources. Last year, India revoked their semi-autonomous status and split the area into two areas governed by India. Now, Pakistan is attempting to do the same to the region of Gilgit-Baltistan, because it is an important region for their commerce with China. In the past, Pakistan and India have fought multiple wars over the region. If the conflict continues to escalate, and no compromise is reached, it is possible that the violence could heighten. In that case, external powers would have to intervene as they have in the past, because of the potential security threat to the entire region.