China Next Target for Terrorists

Terrorists have targeted the Pakistani people and security forces in different parts of Pakistan without a break, and it would prove to be quite upsetting if we were to present the facts and figures of these losses. It is apparent from these figures that Pakistan is facing a highly organized and dangerous enemy. A few days ago two reports were made public which honestly presented the financial and human losses suffered by the Pakistani people and our security forces over the past few years.

Investigating Report
The first report was prepared by the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR), and the second by a credible research institute, known as the Pakistan Institute for Peace Studies. This report was based on the details of the events of the year 2009. According to the ISPR report, from 2009 to date a daily average of 10 security personnel were killed.

Without going into detail, the crux of the report is that, during the past few years, terrorists have martyred 2273 soldiers, 78 officers, and 21,672 civilians. The report also states that the total number of security personnel killed, including police personnel, comes to 8,785, while the total number of casualties, including civilians and security personnel, is 30,452. The report also said that 17,742 terrorists have been killed or arrested since 2002.

Increase in Terror Attacks
The increase in terrorist attacks during the year 2009 can be gauged from the fact that the number of civilian and security forces killed is ten thousand. The other report is called the Security Report, 2009. According to this report, terrorist attacks increased during the year 2009 compared to previous years, and 12,632 people were killed during the year. In 2009, 87 suicide attacks were carried out. At least 70 per cent of these attacks took place in the NWFP, where 1,137 were killed, destabilizing the province itself.

The report said that during the year 2008, around 963 persons were killed in a total of 63 suicide attacks, and during the year 2009, a total of 1300 persons were killed in 87 suicide attacks. Details of other attacks, including suicide attacks, were also given. In the NWFP (North West Frontier Province) there were 1,137 attacks, in the Tribal Areas there were 559, in Balochistan 792, in the Punjab 46, in Sind 36, in Islamabad 12, and in Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir 5 attacks each were reported. The report said that during the year 2009, some 12,632 people were killed and 13,815 injured in suicide attacks, Drone attacks, target killings, and sectarian clashes.

The report also indicated that during this year, the city of Peshawar was targeted repeatedly, and reached a peak by early 2010. During the year 2009, Peshawar was targeted by 170 suicide attacks and bomb blasts, which killed 450 people in the city of Peshawar alone. Most of the killed were common, helpless, unarmed civilians. The report also said that the centers of terrorism in Southern Punjab dominated the terrorist scene during the year 2009, and 50 per cent of the terrorists active throughout the country belonged to this region.

The said that terrorists were more trained and better equipped than the police and other security agencies, while a clear lack of effective coordination and collaboration between the police and other security and intelligence agencies was acutely obvious.

Facts and Figures
If we compare the facts and figures of the year 2009 with previous years, we discover that not only did the terrorists have an edge over security personnel, they also did not spare any area or city of Pakistan, including Islamabad. It was also confirmed that the number of casualties continued to increase, and an increasing number of civilians were targeted. These facts and figures should be a matter of concern for those people who have justified the actions of the terrorists through various arguments and justifications, and still continue to say that the attacks carried out within Pakistan are a reaction to the US presence.

However, February 2010 has been comparatively peaceful, but the latter half has been marred by almost daily attacks. Three days after an attack in the Khyber Agency, police personnel were targeted by two suicide attacks in the beautiful city of Mansehra, in Hazara region. This not only indicated the presence of terrorists throughout the country, but also revealed the dangerous strategy of local and foreign anti-Pakistan elements.

In addition to the Chaman and Torkham routes, terrorists planned to target the Silk Road as well since it is the major trade route between China and Pakistan. In other words, these terrorists have decided to apply the same formula against China which they have been using against the United States. There is a need to look at the Mansehra attack in the background of the Silk Route, instead of considering it as a typical attack.

Threat to Silk Route
The people who consider it to be a normal attack must keep in mind that there have been attacks in this beautiful valley in the past as well. Mansehra has been a training center of two Jihadi groups in the past. And the roads and routes in the hills of this area can easily provide access to Kashmir, China, the Northern Areas of Pakistan, and Swat. Therefore, such elements will not ignore the geographical location of the region, given that they have plans to further their hostile agendas in order to become a part of some international agenda in the backdrop of Pak-China relations.

This background should also be kept in view considering that just a few kilometers from this region is the area of Kala Dhaka, which has been used as a main route by Jihadi and militant forces in the recent past. Not far from this area is the military academy of Kakul, from where the borders of Kashmir and Swat are quite near.

It is the duty of the policymaking institutions of Pakistan to begin work on a plan to secure the major trade routes between Pakistan and China against terrorists. Otherwise, this belt will not only be occupied by anti-Chinese forces, but Pak-China friendship itself will be endangered, and the future of the Silk Route seriously threatened.

Autonomy to Gilgit-Baltistan

The Northern Areas have been located on the height of 2,800 to 3,000 ft above the sea level between Karakoram Range, Hindu Kush Range, and Pamir Range of mountains. In the diameter of 90 km around Gilgit, there are a dozen of mountain peaks approximately 15,000 to 20,000 high. The world's second highest peak K-2 is also located in this region. It is approximately 28,250 ft high.

The world's greatest glaciers besides Northern Arctic Ocean are found in these areas. Geographically, these areas are counted among the most sensitive locations of Pakistan. The reason is that it touches China, Afghanistan, and Tajikistan from their northern sides. Approximately 300 miles long Line of Control is located in the south.

Divided Districts
Managed by the central government, these areas cover 72,496 sq km area and its population is more than 2 million. These areas have been divided into five districts of Gilgit, Diamir, Skardu, Ghazar, and Ghanchay for administration facility and economic progress. Shina, Balti, and Broshksi are the regional languages.

Historically these areas were called Darwastan in the past and they were divided into smaller states. Every state used to have its own ruler. Therefore, nothing could be done for collective benefit. The ruler of Basin Raja Gauhar Aman killed Sikander, the ruler of Gilgit and occupied Gilgit in these circumstances. However, Sikhs occupied it in 1842. This area completely fell into the lap of Dogras. The British Government took these areas on 60-year lease in 1935.

Kashmir Freedom Movement
The local population occupied these areas during Kashmir Freedom Movement in 1947. It was 13 November 1947, when Brigadier Bargsar Singh was removed and announcement of independence was made. Governor Basin Mahbub, Governor Ponyal Raja Mohammad Anwar Khan, Mir of Hunza, and local rulers, including Walinagar announced to join Pakistan. According to Karachi Agreement reached in 1948, the Pakistani Government took administrative control of the areas.

Azad Kashmir (Pakistan-administered Kashmir) High Court delivered a verdict on 18 March 1993 and declared the Northern Areas a part of Azad Kashmir The issue reached the Supreme Court. The chief secretary government of Azad Kashmir told the Supreme Court that according to the Karachi Agreement reached on 28 April 1948, the control of the Northern Areas was handed over to the Pakistani Government.

Legitimate Part of Azad Kashmir
The government accepted the Northern Areas as legitimate part of Azad Kashmir. This acceptance is present in Pakistan-China agreement reached on 2 March 1962. Then after reconciliation between the Pakistani Government and Azad Kashmir Government, caretaker Prime Minister Moeen Qureshi, announced to delegate authorities of appointing chief executive of the level of the central minister in the Northern Areas and to give him powers of the provincial government.

The seats of the Northern Areas council were increased from 21 to 24. The judicial commission rate was upgraded to the level of a High Court. Benazir Bhutto constituted a constituent assembly through a new Legal Framework Order (LFO) in 1994. A full bench of the Supreme Court, while giving its decision in 1999 on determining constitutional status of the Northern Areas and granting of fundamental rights to these areas, directed the central government of Pakistan that the Northern Areas according to their geographical locations were quite sensitive. The borders of these areas touch China, India, Tibet, and central Asian states. Therefore, legal and administration measures should be taken within six months to determine the legal status of the area and granting of fundamental rights to people. Some changes were brought in the Northern Areas LFO after the decision of the Supreme Court and its name was changed into Northern Areas Government Act. These areas were granted local autonomy in 2007. The elections based on party system were held for the first time in these areas on 25 October 1994.

Granting Separate Identity
The people of the Northern Areas wished to have separate identity since long. The central cabinet has recently approved Gilgit-Baltistan Empowerment and Self Governance Order 2009. Under this order, the Northern Areas have been granted autonomy. According to this ordinance, the Northern Areas would be called Gilgit-Baltistan and its assembly would comprise 33 members. Besides 24 general members, six seats would be reserved for women and three for technocrats. It will have its own governor and the chief minister.

The elections for the assembly would be held in November and the central minister for Kashmir and Northern Areas would be acting governor until the elections are held. A six-member council would be set up on the pattern of Azad Kashmir and the prime minister would head the council. The president would appoint the governor. The number of judges in the higher judiciary would be five and chairman council would appoint them with the consultation of the governor. The constituent assembly would have the authority to legislate on 55 subjects.

Historical Decision
The Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has termed it a historical decision and has said that a separate chief election commissioner and auditor general would be appointed for Gilgit-Baltistan. According to the prime minister, Gilgit-Baltistan cannot be given the constitutional status of a province. As, the area has been granted full autonomy within the constitutional limits, therefore, it is not required to be brought in the Parliament. Now Gilgit-Baltistan would have no representation in the parliament. The opinions are coming out in the favor and against this new order.

Moreover, reservations are being expressed regarding Kashmir cause. The people who have reservations opine that when Pakistan brought Kashmir dispute in the United Nations in 1948, the total area of Kashmir was 86,400 sq. km., including Gilgit and Baltistan. There are two dangers in granting these areas a separate status from Kashmir. First, the Kashmiri leadership has got negative message that Pakistan has withdrawn from their [Kashmiris] position. India could not separate some areas from Kashmir in spite of its wish because of the fear that the Kashmiri people would not accept that. However, Pakistan has ignored it. Second, if some day the stage of plebiscite comes, then there would be nothing to stop India from refusing to accept those areas as a part of Kashmir.

The Future Ahead
We should call this decision a part of Pervez Musharraf's suggestion that Kashmir should be divided into five units and then a United States of Kashmir should be established. Yasin Malik, chairman of the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front, said: "Gilgit-Baltistan requires administration structure and we must be given this right." To make a decision about the Northern Areas without taking the Kashmiri leadership on board is a disgrace of the Kashmiri people. It is also an undemocratic act. The importance of this decision is that governor and the chief minister will be appointed in Gilgit-Biltastan. Is it not happening in the occupied Kashmir [India-administered Kashmir]? They will be appointed by the president. We call the chief minister of occupied Kashmir a puppet. What will be they called?

Pakistan is of the position since 1947 that Kashmir is a disputed territory and it is not a part of Pakistan as well. The entire Kashmir policy revolves around this policy. Is it not an axing of this position when the President appoints the governor? If this decision was to be made, the Kashmiris, instead of the Pakistani Government, should have made it.

The people who favor this decision say that Gilgit-Baltistan is not a part of Kashmir. The locals of Gilgit-Baltistan had already joined Pakistan before the liberation of Azad Kashmir. This new ordinance was the requirement of the locals so that they should enjoy fundamental rights.