Gilgit-Baltistan is a disputed territory and Pakistan has no right to exploit local natural resources

The members and supporters of Gilgit Baltistan National Congress (GBNC) gathered at Baltimore, Maryland on July 4, 2010 to appreciate World Bank’s recent decision to refuse funds for Diamer Dam. The dam was going to be constructed in the Diamer district of Gilgit-Baltistan; which is a region of the Princely State of Jammu & Kashmir under Pakistani occupation.  

At the end of the meeting, president of GBNC, Imtiaz Hussain called the press to release the statement. Engineer Imtiaz Hussain appreciated World Bank’s timely decision. He said, “International donor agencies and foreign countries including China are requested to refuse any support to Pakistan which may result in construction of mega projects and military infrastructure. These projects provide no benefits to the natives of Gilgit-Baltistan. However, the environmental consequences attached to these projects are critical, which will hurt the future generations.” Senge Hasnan Sering, director of GBNC, called for an action by the American Congress to persuade Pakistan to withdraw from the region and stop interference in the local matters. He said, “Pakistani projects damage local cultural heritage, farmland, ancestral settlements and graveyards, and the pastures and wildlife habitats.” The members of the board of directors, Mohammad Sabir and Ghulam Ali, also spoke on the occasion. M. Sabir congratulated the people of Diamer in particular and the natives of Gilgit-Baltistan in general on this occasion. He said, “World Bank’s decision is extremely important in the sense that it will help quell any illegal advances on Gilgit-Baltistan in future.” Ghulam Ali thanked the members of Gilgit-Baltistan Democratic Alliance (GBDA) and All Parties National Alliance (APNA) for supporting the people of Diamer in this regard. He said, “Without the ardent support of the nationalists of Gilgit-Baltistan, the international community couldn’t have known about the demands and the plight of the natives.” He thanked World Bank for not taking pressure of Pakistani authorities in this regard.

President of GBNC, Imtiaz Hussain impressed upon the audience the negative impacts of large artificial water reservoirs in Gilgit-Baltistan. He said, “Gilgit-Baltistan is the epicenter of seismic activities in South Asia. Such projects ensue in environmental impacts of no match.” Referring to the Ataabad artificial lake, which has inundated several villages and damaged local glaciers, he emphasized that Diamer water reservoir will be three times larger and equally destructive. He said that the dam will force thousands of people to abandon their ancestral villages, thereby breaking their link with land and damaging their cultural identity. He regretted Pakistan’s policy of exploiting local resources without the consent of people. He said, “Pakistan’s decision to impose herself on the land and people of Gilgit-Baltistan is unilateral and illegal. Such a policy violates United Nation’s Security Council resolutions of 1948 and 1949.” He feared that construction of such dams will encourage Pakistanis to settle in the region in large numbers, transforming local cultural, ethnic and religious demography. Mr. Imtiaz appealed to the international community to support the cause of Gilgit-Baltistan. He thanked the participants on behalf of GBNC and invited them to join the advocacy group. The event ended with the Food Festival of Gilgit-Baltistan, also arranged by GBNC. Local cuisine including Sha-balay, srub-balay, mar-cha and chuli-chhu were part of the menu. All the participants, especially the American friends, enjoyed the variety of cuisine and praised GBNC for introducing the culture of Gilgit-Baltistan in the United States.