Comparative Study of PoK, Balochistan & Jammu & Kashmir

Regions: A Socio-Political Analysis

Aishwary Singh
University of Delhi
Delhi-110021, INDIA
Email : singhaishwary10@gmail.com

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

The Kashmir Conflict dates back to 1947. It all started with the partition of Indian

sub-continent in 1947 on the basis of religion which further lead to formation of India and

Pakistan. During the partition Jammu and Kashmir was given an option to join either India or

Pakistan but the Ruler of Jammu and Kashmir Maharaja Hari Singh decided to stay

independent as majority of population of Kashmir was muslim and Maharaja Hari Singh was

Hindu. But unfortunately their independence didn’t last long as there was an attack in

Kashmir by the Pakistan’s Pashtoon tribe. To tackle this situation Hari Singh asked for

military help from the Indian Government. He signed instrument of accession at Amar Palace

on October 26, ceding Kashmir to India.

India and Pakistan thus fought their first war over Kashmir in 1947-48. This conflict

was taken to United Nations by India on January 1. In United Nation Resolution of August

1948, United Nation asked Pakistan to remove its forces after which India was to withdraw

its forces. After all this a plebiscite was to be held in Kashmir so that the Kashmiri people

could decide their future . Indian government was pretty confident that it would win the

plebiscite because the most influential leader of Kashmir Sheikh Abdullah was on its side.

Pakistan ignored the UN resolution and continued fighting and kept a portion of Kashmir

with itself.

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 Finally on 1 January 1949 a ceasefire was agreed which resulted in 65 percent of the

Kashmir territory with India and rest with Pakistan. Figure 1 shows the demarcation of the

boundaries.

Fig.1 : Map of PoK and Jammu & Kashmir

Baluchistan :

The conflict of Baluchistan goes back to 1947 . It all started in 1948 when Kalat, a

part of current Baluchistan chose to be independent. This conflict was followed further by

conflicts in 1958-59, 1962-63, 1973-74, 2004-till present. In spite of the natural resources in

the Baluchistan province including chromites, fluorite, marble, gold, gas, iron and petroleum

which are of prominent importance, it has remained one of the poorest provinces in

Pakistan.The province has been marginalized throughout history.

Fig.2 : Map of Baluchistan

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POLITICAL SITUATION:

PoK

After the accession area of Kashmir within the Pakistani territory was bifurcated in

two parts- Azad Jammu & Kashmir(AJK) and Northern Areas which consisted of Gilgit –

Baltistan. The Trans Karakoram Tract, comprising Shaksagam from Baltistan and Raskam

from Gilglit was ceded to China by Pakistan in 1963 is also the part of POK. AJK is

governed under the Azad Jammu&Kashmir interim Constitution Act passed in 1974. Even

though AJK has a President, Prime Minister and a council, the governing structure is totally

dependent upon the Pakistani establishment. Pakistan has always tried to install government

of its own choice in POK. The first government of POK led by Sardar Ibrahim Khan was

dismissed in 1953 as were subsequent government governments led by Khan Abdul Qayuum

Khan, Colonel Sher Ali and Mirwaiz Yusuf Shah, between 1953 and 1962.In 1964 as well the

democratic government was also dismissed. So there always has been unstable governance in

POK. Even though there is an interim constitution act, the ground reality remains the same.

Various elected government of AJK have been influenced by Pakistani government or by the

Army. The Pakistani Army exercises immense power in AJK as it influences both the

political parties and the administration in POK. This means this region is under direct rule of

Pakistani Government but then also it is named as “Azad” Kashmir.

The other part of PoK i.e. Gilgit Baltistan, came under direct rule of Pakistan under

the Karachi Agreement and it was known as “Northern Areas”. Interestingly this region does

not find mention in Pakistan’s Constitution. Its constitution talks about a future date when the

people of Jammu and Kashmir may decide to accede to it but there is no recognition to

Gilgit-Baltistan and PoK. The people of this region did not enjoy the fundamental rights that

people in rest of Pakistan did.