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Subject: Paki Lies in EU Brussels(Tara Khan) BOLOR (GILGIT-BALTISTAN AND ADJOINING AREAS) ISSUE OF THE BOLOR, JAMMU AND KASHMIR DISPUTE GOVERNMENT OF PAKISTAN’s IMMATURE AND ERRONEOUS STAND TOWARDS BARONESS EMMA NICHOLSON REPORT THE ORIGINAL LETTER OF THE PAKISTANI AMBASSADOR AND IMPORTANT CONTENTS OF LETTER WITH BEFITTING REPLY / PROOFS EMBASSY OF PAKISTAN Avenue Dellour 57 1170 BRUSSELS ----- Tel: (02) 673 80 07 Fax: (02) 675 83 94 ---- 8th May, 2007 AMBASSADOR Dear Baroness, Reference the report “Kashmir: Present situation and future prospects”, adopted by the Committee on Foreign Affairs on 21st March, 2007. Para 2 of the explanatory statement annexed to the report states: “The division gave Kashmir Valley, Jammu, Laddakh and Siachin Glacier accession to the Republic of India as the State of Jammu and Kashmir. The Islamic Republic of Pakistan took control of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and Gilgit and Baltistan, the latter renamed the Northern Areas, a small part of which Pakistan ceded to the People’s Republic of China in 1963.” In this context, I would like to bring to your notice the following salient points regarding the Northern Areas of Pakistan: The Northern Areas of Pakistan consist of six districts, viz. Gilgit, Skardu, Diamir Ghizer, Ghanche and Astore. Its population is around 1.5 million and it spreads over a vast area of 72, 495 sq. KM. Historically, the Treaties of Lahore and Amristar of 1846, which constitute the basic documents regarding the establishment of the State of Jammu and Kashmir, do not recognize its territorial limits on the areas westwards of the River Indus. The whole of Northern Areas, which include Gilgit Agency and Baltistan Agency, was not a part of Jammu and Kashmir State in August 1947. The States of Hunza and Nagar were never treated as part of Jammu and Kashmir. They were autonomous states but nominally under the suzerainty of the Dogra ruler. Hunza and Nagar acceded to Pakistan and the instrument of accession signed by the Mirs (rulers) of these states was accepted by the Quaid-e-Azam in 1947. The UNCIP resolutions are also relative to the State of Jammu and Kashmir and do not, in any manner, apply to any part of the Northern Areas which were not included in the State of Jammu and Kashmir before 1947. From this perspective, interegation of the Northern Areas with Pakistan is also not prohibited. Regarding Siachin, the following information may be of interest to you: Siachen Glacier forms part of the Northern Areas, which has been under the administrative control of Pakistan, right from 1947. The physical control of this area was acknowledged by the Government of India when Pakistan signed the Border Agreement with China in 1963. This control was never disturbed during the conflicts of 1948, 1965 and 1971. Thus, Pakistan’s control over the area remained effective till April 1984 when Indian troops were found to be present there a development violating the provisions of the Simla Agreement. The Karachi Agreement of 1949 specifically fixes N.J 9842 as the northern most terminus of the Cease Fire Line (CFL). As the agreement was one between military representatives for purpose of establishing a CFL, it obviously did not touch on the question of drawing a line beyond the areas of hostilities. The Sub-Para B 2 (d) of the Agreement gives the descriptive narrative of CFL towards its terminus in Baltistan which reads as: “…. Chorbatla (Pt 15700), Chulanka (on the Shyok River), Khor, thence north to the glaciers. This portion of the CFL shall be demarcated in detail on the basic of the factual position as of 27 July 1949 by the local commanders, assisted by UN Military Observer.” Because of Pakistan’s control over the area a number of mountaineering expeditions, including foreign expeditions which took permission from the Government of Pakistan visited Siachen area, the most well known of which was undertaken by a term of the Imperial College of London led by Eric Shipton in 1957. Two Australian expeditions visited Siachen area during 1962. These expeditions sought and were given permission by the Government of Pakistan as a matter of course. The conclusion of a Boundary Agreement China and Pakistan in 1963 established the second terminus at Karakoram Pass. Thus, the area located North and North East of NJ 9842 upto the Karakoram pass has been under the de-facto control of Pakistan. This fact is clearly reflected in prestigious international atlases like National Geographic and Britannica etc. Pakistan’s control over the area during and after the 1965 conflict remained undisturbed. The 1949 CFL was restored after the Tashkent Agreement. Pakistan’s control over the area in question remained undisturbed during 1971 war. The Line of Control resulting from the Cease Fire of December 17, 1971 as delimited by the Military Representatives of both the Governments again terminated at NJ 9842. Pakistan’s control was also recognized by India in the Karachi and Simla agreements. Pakistan continued to exercise control in the area in question after the Simla Agreement. Up to 1984, Pakistan granted permission to a number of foreign mountaineering expeditions who visited the Siachen Glacier and the area to the east along with a large number of Pakistani personnel. Pakistan protested to India on March 29, 1982 against intrusion by the Indian troops in the area. India describe the protest as “invalid” stating that “this area is a part of Jammu and Kashmir the whole of which is an integral part of India”. In 1984, India, in violation of the Simla Agreement, moved its troops north of LoC terminus NJ 9842 and occupied Sia La and Belafond La passes of the Saltoro range lying west and adjacent to the Siachen Glacier. In response, Pakistan Army moved in the area to check further Indian ingress. Pakistani troops occupied position in Gyong La, overlooking the Nubra Valley. I hope that the information given above would find due place in the final report and would help in removing factual errors from the report. SIGNED (M. Saeed Kahlid) Ambassador Baroness Nicholson of Winterbourne Parlement European Bat, Altiero Spinelli 10G209 60, rue Wiertz / Wiertzstraat 60 B-1047 Bruxelles / Brussel ……………………………………………………………………………………… IMPORTANT CONTENTS OF THE ABOVE LETTER WITH REPLIES / PROOFS “The division gave Kashmir Valley, Jammu, Laddakh and Siachin Glacier accession to the Republic of India as the State of Jammu and Kashmir. The Islamic Republic of Pakistan took control of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and Gilgit and Baltistan, the latter renamed the Northern Areas, a small part of which Pakistan ceded to the People’s Republic of China in 1963.” 1. The Islamic Republic of Pakistan did not assume control by itself but were asked to liaise with the outside World by the leadership of Azad Jammu Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan (Bolor / Northern Area Province of the State of J&K) in their war effort to liberate the whole of the State of J&K. Only two battalions i.e. 1500 men of Pakistan Army participated in peace keeping efforts in 1947-48 War of Liberation in AJK, whereas no Pakistan Army unit came into the arena of war in Northern Areas throughout fourteen months in 1947-48, and even thereafter till 1972. They only came to fuel up sectarianism in Northern Areas. The Local Authority Govt in Muzaffarabad and Gilgit were established by the local people themselves. Involvement of Govt of Pakistan proved to be counter productive and harmful. 2. Gilgit-Baltistan was never renamed as the Northern Areas by the Govt of Pakistan. On 1st Aug 1947, when Maharaja J&K became the ruler of the State in real sense of the term; he named it “The Northern Area Frontier Province”. This is how it is mentioned from the start till todate in all UN / UNCIP documents, resolutions and connected correspondence. Some extracts / excerpts are mentioned below:- 68. On 5 August 1957, Pakistan notified the Council (S/3860) that, from information available to it, it appeared that India had settled in Jammu and Kashmir a large number of non-Muslims, who were not residents of the State. By this act, India was contravening the Security Council resolution of 17 January 1948 (S/651) which had asked the parties to refrain from doing or permitting any acts which might aggravate the situation. This move was being made in order that India might assert later that a plebiscite had become progressively more difficult because of changed circumstances. 69. On 9 August 1957, India informed the Council (S/3861) that the allegations contained in the letter of Pakistan (S/3860) were false and baseless. No non-resident of Jammu and Kashmir was permitted to become a resident and no evacuee property could be allotted to any non-resident. The refugees had fled from Pakistan occupied areas of Jammu and Kashmir. India had not acted in contravention of the Security Council resolution of 17 January 1948 (S/651). The relevant facts were that Pakistan was in occupation of part of the territory of the Union of India by aggression and in violation of the Security Council resolution of 17 January 1948 and the two resolutions of the United Nations Commission for India and Pakistan. ………………………… ………………………… 93. Then, in another part of Kashmir, called the northern areas, also occupied by Pakistan, there were new airfields, new roads and all kinds of military preparations. Furthermore, the sovereignty of India over those areas had not been questioned. Thus, in contravention of the UNCIP resolution and without the knowledge of the Security Council, Pakistan had raised troops in those areas had illegally annexed those territories. ………………………. …………………….. 104. Equally, India would do nothing to aggravate the situation. India would, therefore, ask for full "vacation of that aggression"; the total disbanding of the Azad Kashmir forces; and the evacuation of the "northern areas" and their restoration to the State of Jammu and Kashmir 165. As regards India's demand that the administration and control of the northern areas should revert to the Government of the State of Jammu and Kashmir, the Pakistan representative pointed out that under part II A (3) of the 13 August 1948 resolution the northern areas should continue to be administered by the "local authorities" and that under part II B (2) of the same resolution the Indian and State armed forces must remain on their own side of the cease-fire line. 407. The UNCIP resolutions of 13 August 1948 and 5 January 1949 were resolutions agreed to by India and the resolutions stood by their texts and their intentions. They had to be read together and their sequence taken into account. They also had to be read along with the assurances given to India regarding their meaning. The 13 August 1948 resolution had a consecutive character, the fulfillment of one part depending on the prior fulfillment of another. The 5 January 1949 resolution was supplementary to the 13 August 1948 resolution. 441. The representative of Pakistan said that he wished to answer certain assertions made by the representative of India in order to set the record straight. Pakistan had not entered the State before May 1948. The proximity of Pakistan Army cantonments to Jammu and Kashmir was not of recent origin. They had been there for a hundred years. With regard to allegation concerning the strength of the Azad Kashmir forces, the representative of Pakistan denied that their strength had been augmented or that jet airships had been built in Gilgit and Skardu. As for Chitral State, it had acceded to Pakistan and its status had never been in dispute. Over the last nine years, no mention had been made of it in the Council. The representative of India's present reference to that State was but another attempt to confuse the issue. By linking the destiny of Kashmir with the safety of the Muslims in India, the representative of India was conveying a threat of genocide to which the Government of Pakistan wished to draw the attention of the Security Council. 447. The representative of India next said. By-passing a fact, however, did not mean that it did not exist. Because UNCIP had taken account of facts, it had not questioned the sovereignty of the Jammu and Kashmir Government and had not given Pakistan a place either in plebiscite organization or in the Government of the occupied area, which was supposed to have been given to the local authorities. NORTHERN AREAS Following the presentation of its second interim report (S/1196), the United Nations Commission for India and Pakistan returned to the Indian sub-continent on 4 February 1949 to assist the Governments of India and Pakistan in the implementation of the Commission's resolution of 13 August 1948 (S/1100, paragraph 75) and 5 January 1949 (S/1196, paragraph 15). A. Third interim report of the Commission and minority report of the representative of Czechoslovakia On 5 December 1949, the United Nations Commission for India and Pakistan submitted its third interim report (S/1430), which was placed on the agenda for the 457th meeting of the Council (17 December 1949). The report described the Commission's activities in the light of its assigned task, discussed the different means of negotiation employed, and analyzed the main problems. The conclusions reached were: (1) The issue of the disposal of the Azad Kashmir forces, the withdrawal of troops, and the defense and administration of the northern area, made of the truce an end in itself ..................... The Commission held the view that the most important issues to be settled at the present stage were the withdrawal of troops from the State of Jammu and Kashmir, the disposal of the Azad Kashmir forces in the western part of the State and the administration and defense of the northern area of the State. NORTHERN SCOUTS 635. Sir Owen Dixon's report, after summarizing his initial movements and investigations, stated that it had seemed obvious to him that, in attempting to settle the dispute between the Governments of India and Pakistan about the State of Jammu and Kashmir, he must be governed by the course that had been followed by the Council and United Nations Commission for India and Pakistan, and agreed upon by the parties. 639. The disarming and disbandment of the Azad Kashmir forces and the Northern Scouts were to follow the withdrawal of the Pakistan forces, as were also the withdrawal of the regular Indian Army forces, the withdrawal or disarming and disbandment of the Jammu and Kashmir State forces and the disarming and disbandment of its militia. Pakistan's plans were to be settled first and were to be furnished to the Indian Chief of Staff for his information The Northern Areas of Pakistan consist of six districts, viz. Gilgit, Skardu, Diamir Ghizer, Ghanche and Astore. Its population is around 1.5 million and it spreads over a vast area of 72, 495 sq. KM 1. The Ambassador and his benefactors should reconcile and correct themselves. They have invented a new terminology i.e. The Northern Areas of Pakistan. This is the Northern Areas of the State of J&K. Baroness Emma Nicholson is also requested to correct her report regarding this fact. The reactionary and brain drained Govt of Pakistan’s officials have tried to draw mileage out of it. The population of Northern Areas of the State of J&K is over two million. Historically, the Treaties of Lahore and Amristar of 1846, which constitute the basic documents regarding the establishment of the State of Jammu and Kashmir, do not recognize its territorial limits on the areas westwards of the River Indus. The whole of Northern Areas, which include Gilgit Agency and Baltistan Agency, was not a part of Jammu and Kashmir State in August 1947. 1. Baltistan cum Laddakh wazarat was undisputedly part and parcel of the State of J&K since it was conquered by Dogra General Wazir Zorawar Singh from Jammu on Kishtawarr axis i.e. a totally different axis than the conquest of Gilgit by Dogra cum English; till todate. Baltistan was beyond doubt, part and parcel of the State of J&K even before 1846. In actual fact Baltistan and Laddakh up till Tibet were conquered by Dogras from 1833 to 1835, Zorawar Singh got killed in Tibet in 1841. The last fraudulent terminology used by the Govt of Pakistan in the UN / UNCIP Documents is, “Gilgit Agency and the Northern Areas of Kashmir”. Baltistan and Astore are beyond doubt in the Northern Areas of Kashmir in accordance with the maps and all other documents of the Govt of Pakistan. They should stop beating about the bush and befooling the people of Gilgit-Baltistan. They are perhaps themselves very confused on the issue. Siachin glacier cowardly, negligently and unprofessionally lost by the Pakistan Army to the Indian Army is part and parcel of Baltistan which has got nothing to do with the treaty of Amritsar. 2. On 1st Aug 1947, Baltistan – Laddakh and Gilgit wazarats combined became the Northern Area Province of the State of J&K. 3. An amendment was incorporated in the treaty of Amritsar by successive English Viceroy of India on behest of British Crown and the whole of Gilgit wazarat including the bordering territories of Gilgit agency became part and parcel of Gilgit wazarat under Dogra. In 1935, the English got controlled of complete Gilgit wazarat including Gilgit agency from Dogras for a period of 60 years, which they handed back to Dogras on 1st Aug 1935. Treaty of Amritsar became invalid after amendments and additions into it. 4. On 15 Aug 1947, the supreme leader of Pakistan, Mr Mohammad Ali Jinnah entered into a Standstill agreement with the Maharaja of J&K. Therefore, it can be safely assume that Pakistan recognized the political and geographical entity of the State of J&K, which included Gilgit-Baltistan in its Northern Area Province. The States of Hunza and Nagar were never treated as part of Jammu and Kashmir. They were autonomous states but nominally under the suzerainty of the Dogra ruler. Hunza and Nagar acceded to Pakistan and the instrument of accession signed by the Mirs (rulers) of these states was accepted by the Quaid-e-Azam in 1947. 1. The two treacherous, selfish and opportunist Mirs of Hunza and Nagar had vowed loyalty to the Maharaja of Kashmir on the eve of the division of Subcontinent Indo-Pak. Captain Saeed Durrani of Gilgit Scouts on his way back to Gilgit from Misgar outpost on Chinese border after overthrow of Dogra rule in Gilgit on 1 Nov 1947, obtained accession signatures from these two Mirs. On arrival at Gilgit, he became part and parcel of the 1 Nov 1947, Islamic Republic at Gilgit, thus; Hunza and Nagar States became part and parcel of the Govt at Gilgit. The identical forged documents of so called accession of these two States are dubious in form, timings, events and contradictions. There is a letter, which clearly mentions the Minister without portfolio, Ministry of Defense of the Govt of Pakistan and Quaid-e-Azam himself saying that the dispatch of these forged accession documents, signed by Mohammad Ali Jinnah should be stopped. These two Tehsils now (old states) out of two dozen states / tehsils of Gilgit-Baltistan, is no excuse that the whole of Gilgit-Baltistan fell into the trap and lap of the wicked Govts of Pakistan. However, few proofs are given out as under:- TOP SECRET Copy No......... ADDENDUM TO NOTES OF A MEETING HELP IN HPM'S RESIDENCE AT 1100 HOURS ON 4 MARCH 1949 TO DISCUSS THE GILGIT SITUATION. The following should be added as additional paragraphs. POSITION OF HUNZA AND NAGAR. 11. It was decided that no action should be taken to notify to UNCIP the accession of the Mirs of Hunza and Nagar as it was hoped to include them in the plebiscite area. VISIT OF UNCIP TO GILGIT. 12. It was decided that no objection should be raised to UNCIP or a Sub-Commission thereof visiting Gilgit if they so wished. DISTRIBUTION Copy No. 1 HPM & HMD. Major General, 2 HM FA & CR. Secretary JSCC, 3 Secy, Ministry of States. (W.J Cawthorn). 4 Air Commander. 5-3-1949. 5-8 Secy JSCC. 9 DMO, GHQ. 10-11 UNCLO (Mr. Ayub) 12 C-in-C Pakarmy. 13 Def Secy. Regarding Siachin, the following information may be of interest to you: 1. The 70 Km long and 5 Km wide Siachin Glacier is very much part and parcel of the Baltistan region of the disputed Northern Areas of Kashmir, it is like a “long arm”, as described by Pakistani law Minister, which is shoved. In addition to this, the Pakistan Army Generals always lost valuable areas of Northern Areas to the Indians in all wars and skirmishes i.e. 12 villages in Shyok river valley areas in Ganche district of Baltistan in 1970, twice lost Kafir Paharr overlooking Kargil in Indus river valley and never got it back second time, gave away ManikShaw post overlooking Chanigund / Dras permanently to Indians so that the Indian captured areas in Pakistani Punjab are given back to Pakistanis. Before that in 1947-48, when the Pakistani Army officers were at the helm of affairs, they lost Gurez valley, Zojila pass, Kargil, Leh etc. In 1999 Kargil war, Instead of gaining again we lost some dominant observation areas to Indians. 2. On the one hand, the worthy ambassador is emphasizing on the sanctity of the border agreement with China over the disputed regions in 1963, Simla agreement and other many agreements about the disputed State of J&K, but on the other hand refuses blatantly that Gilgit-Baltistan is a disputed region. 3. Govt of Pakistan has accepted the Cease-fire line now Line of Control in the disputed State of J&K including Gilgit-Baltistan, with disputed regions on both sides unlike the working boundary between the Pakistani territory of Sialkot and Jammu region of the disputed State of J&K. 4. This is what is mentioned in the UNITED NATIONS – SACURITY COUNCIL, OFFICIAL RECORDS, FOURTH YEAR, SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT No. 7 – LAKE SUCCESS, NEW YORK. · ANNEX 26 AGREEMENT BETWEEN MILITARY REPRESENTATIVES OF INDIA AND PAKISTAN REGARDING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A CEASE-FIRE LINE IN THE STATE OF JAMMU AND KASHMIR (S/AC.12/TC.4) [Original text :English] 29 July 1949 I. INTRODUCTION A. The military representatives of India and Pakistan met together in Karachi from 18 July to 27 July 1949 under the auspices of the Truce Sub-Committee of the United Nations Commission for India and Pakistan. B.The members of the Indian delegation were: Major General W. J. Cawthorn, Major General K. S. Thimayya, Brigadier S. H. F. J. Manekshaw. As observers: Mr. H. M. Patel, Mr. V. Sahay. C.The members of the Pakistan delegation were: W. J. Cawthorn, Major General Nazir Ahmad, Brigadier M. Sher Khan. As observers: Mr. M. Ayub, Mr., A. A. Khan. D. The members of the Truce Sub-committee of the United Nations Commission for India and Pakistan were: Mr. Hernendo Samper (Colombia), Chairman; Mr. William L. S. Williams (United States); Lieutenant General Maurice Delvoie, Military Adviser; Mr. Miguel A. Marin, Legal Adviser. II. AGREEMENT A. CONSIDERING B. The delegations of India and Pakistan, duly authorized, have reached the following agreement: ; 1. Under the provisions of part I of the resolution of 13 August 1948, and as a complement of the suspension of hostilities in the State of Jammu and Kashmir on 1 January 1949, a cease-fire line is established. 2. The cease-fire line runs from Manawar in the south, north to Keran and from Keran east to the glacier area, as follows: .............................................................. .............................................................. (d) From Dalunang eastwards the cease-fire line will follow the general line point 15495, Ishmam, Manus, Gangam, Gunderman, Point 13620, Junkar (Point 17628), Marmak, Natsara, Shangruti, (Point 17531), Chorbat La (Point 16700), Chalunka (on the Shyok River), Khor, thence north to the glaciers. This portion of the cease-fire line shall be demarcated in detail on the basis of the factual position as of 27 July 1949 by the local commanders, assisted by United Nations Military Observers. I. The United Nations Commission for India and Pakistan will station Observers where it deems necessary. In faith whereof the undersigned sign this document in three original copies. Done in Karachi on 27 July 1949. For the Government of India: (Signed) S. M. SHRINAGESH For the Government of Pakistan: (Signed) J. CAWTHORN - Major General For the United Nations Commission for India and Pakistan (Signed) Hernando SAMPER M. DELVOIE DOCUMENT S / 1430 / ADD.2 United Nations Commission for India and Pakistan; Map of the State of Jammu and Kashmir showing the cease-fire line as agreed upon in the Karachi military agreement, ratified by the Governments of India and Pakistan respectively on 29 and 30 July 1949 (See annex 26 to the third interim report of the United Nations Commission for India and Pakistan) [Original text: English] 12 December 1949 KASHMIR AND JAMMU And GILGIT AGENCY (MAP) Note: The area south and east of the cease-fire line is the region held by the Indian Army. (The cease-fire line is between the disputed area on both the sides, unlike the working boundary in the Sialkot sector with international border on Pakistani side and disputed region of Jammu on Indian side.) SOME OTHER IMPORTANT EXCERPTS FROM UN DOCUMENTS · PARA 7 - PAGE 110. Regarding paragraphs 1 and 2 of section D, the Government of India agree to the procedure outlined in these proposals, except as regards the territory from Chorwan to the north of Dras, which, in the opinion of the Government of India, forms part of the sparsely populated mountainous region referred to in the Prime Minister's letter of 20th August to Mr. Korbel [S/1100, paragraph 80]. · PARA 8 - PAGE 110. As for section D, paragraph 3, although Pakistan forces, both regular and irregular, may be withdrawn from the sparsely populated and mountainous areas in the north, a large number of local population, which Pakistan has armed, will remain and will constitute a threat and a menace both to the trade with Central Asia of the Jammu and Kashmir State and to the security of the valley of Kashmir. The Government of India, therefore, reaffirms their request that they be allowed to maintain in the memorandum which accompanied my letter No. 248-PASG/49, dated the 13th April 1949. As stated in that letter, the question of the administration of this area can be discussed separately. · ANNEX 22 LETTER DATED 28 APRIL 1949,FROM THE CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMISSION ADDRESSED TO THE ACTING MINISTER FOR EXTERNAL AFFAIRS,GOVERNMENT OF INDIA,REGARDING THE TRUCE TERMS (S/AC.12/193) PARA 4(b) - PAGE 114 ................ Nevertheless, in an effort to meet the position of your Government in this matter, the enclosed terms provide that, without prejudice to the provision of point 8 of the resolution of 5 January 1949, should the Commission and/or the Plebiscite Administrator may agree to your Government stationing garrison north of the cease-fire line, as contemplated under section I D. · ANNEX 24 LETTER DATED 26 APRIL 1949,FROM THE MINISTER OF KASHMIR AFFAIRS, GOVERNMENT OF PAKISTAN, ADDRESSED TO THE CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMISSION, REGARDING THE NORTHERN AREAS (S/AC.12/190) PAGE 116 AND 117.............. In the first place, the area north of the cease-fire line is "evacuated territory" precisely in the same way as any area west of the cease-fire line. In their letter of 3rd September, 1948, to the Foreign Minister of Pakistan [S/1100, paragraph 90], the Commission explained that the term "evacuated territory" used in paragraph A. 3 of part II of the resolution of 13th August, 1948 "refers to those territories...which are at present under the effective control of the Pakistan High Command". The area north of the cease-fire line was as much under the effective control of the Pakistan High Command as the area west of the cease-fire line. (SIGNED) M. A. GURMANI APPENDIX PAPER PRESENTED BY THE GOVERNMENT OF PAKISTAN ON THE AREA NORTH OF THE CEASE FIRE LINE EXCLUDING GILGIT AGENCY AND GILGIT SUB-DIVISION. · An emergency administration was set up which took over effective control of the entire Gilgit Agency and Sub-Division, Gilgit Wazarat and Rondu Sub-Tehsil of Baltistan. The local authorities announced the desire of the people to accede to Pakistan in a series of telegrams to the Pakistan Government. In view of the international importance of the area, and the danger of foreign intervention in disturbed conditions, the Pakistan Government sent a Political Agent in the middle of November 1947 to provisionally take over the administration in order to restore law and to stabilize conditions . .............................. All the local Rajas of Baltistan (who are all Muslims) denounced the Maharaja's rule and pledged their allegiance to Azad Kashmir. Civil administration was set up in the area up to, but excluding Kargil. Volunteers were recruited and organized into battalions. ....................................... Early in April 1948, an Azad column from Astore (one battalion) moved south and occupied Gurais and the Kishanganga Valley, and captured Tragbal Pass. A civil administration was set up in the whole area and local militia was raised. The natural hardihood and superb fighting qualities of the locals of this area, accustomed to living in the cold and at high altitudes, have proved beyond any doubt the superiority of the locals of this area to the men from the plains of India when it comes to fighting in these high altitudes. The Muslim population of this area is approximately 200,000. It can easily produce a force of at lease 30,000 men. This force, without much help from the Pakistan Army, could hold even a major attack launched south during the few summer months when the high passes remain open. The willing assistance of the local population against foreign aggression would be available to Pakistan but not India. Economically the country is more or less self-sufficient, only a few necessities of life having to be imported. These come almost entirely from Pakistan over the routes already mentioned.
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