BACKGROUND

In the occupied Balwaristan (which includes present districts of Diamer, Skardu, Ganchhe, Gilgit and Ghazer and Pakistan occupied districts of Chitral and Shinaki Kohistan there has been an undeclared ban on speech and writing since the past 53 years. With the commencement of the publication of "Balawaristan Times" in 1994 for the first time, Pakistani agents (who apparently claim to be the rulers) seized all of its copies and imposed a ban on its publication. Besides getting informed about the international situation and it's surroundings, it is important that the Balawar nation must launch a bold and organised struggle for the better future of its generation and for getting a respectable place in the world in this new century. Like all colonies, this heaven on earth, which has abundant resources, is occupied by strangers and that stranger and real enemy is not unknown. Nor will we keep it's name a secret while demonstrating cowardice or expediency. It is Pakistan and it's corrupt rulers and the worst human - beings are Pathans and Punjabis. Baluchis and Sindhis are not counted in any category.

Muhajirs are also enemies of these rulers. Pakistan captured our DHARTI (meaning, the great land, according to great poet Jamsheed Dokhi) without use of force in beginning. Neither has it bought it on lease nor has it signed any written agremeent with the people of this land. This useless and wicked Pakistan entered like a guest as a sympathiser and helper but became a host due to simplicity and foolishness of the owner of the house. By making brothers fight with one another, it made the real host a slave in his own house. Pakistan got this occupation without any efforts or loss at the time when company commander Hassan Khan (who was retired by Pakistan as Colonel later) of 6 J & K regiment and Subedar Maj. Gilgit scouts Raja Babar Khan revolted against the ruler of Jammu & Kashmir and arrested his appointed Governor, Brigadier Ghansara singh and established an independent state of Gilgit on Ist November,1947.

Baltistan was liberated by the Gilgit scout and local people in 1948. The actual reason of revolt was delay in meeting the demands of timely incentives to Gilgit scouts due to animosity of R.C Kak, the then Maharaja Hari Singh's Prime Minister, with the governor. Only 9 Platoons of Gilgit Scouts from Nagir, Hunza, Gilgit, Punial, Gopis, and yasen and a few local civilians played an active role in the revolution. After the arrest of Ghansara Singh, military revolutionary council, led by Capt. Mirza Hassan Khan, appointed Raja Shah Raees Khan as President of the Republic and Mirza Hassan Khan as Commander-in-Chief of the army. The British commandent of Gilgit scouts, Major Brawn who was opposed to the revolution and was trying to flee via Chitral was arrested. After humiliating the heroes of the revolution, disbanding Gilgit scouts and demolishing its historical contonment, Pakistan finally gave credit of this so-called freedom to Maj. Brawn and decorated his wife with a medal after a passage of half a century.

50 years ago, the region of Balawaristan was unaware of any political system. Rajas and Mirs were used to carry out the affairs of the Government in different areas. Raja of Yasen was the ruler of Chilas, Darel and Tangir of present district of Diamer. Different Rajas ruled Astore, Gilgit, Punial, Gupis, Ishkoman and Yasen, while Mirs were governing Nagir and Hunza. In Baltistan there were about a dozen Rajas. Noteable of them were Raja Khapoolo, Raja Shigar, Raja Kharmang and Raja Rondo. There was lack of political awareness all over the land, while only 500 personnel of Gilgit Scouts and local volunteers continued to fight against the armies of Jammu & Kashmir and India till 1948 and got vacated 42 thousand sq.miles of area. Due to their engagement in the war and it's ignorance of civil governance, some un - intelligent soldiers of the revolution requested Pakistan to help in the administrative affairs on temporary basis.

On this Sardar Mohd Alam, a 3rd class magistrate (Naib Tehsildar) of NWFP was sent by Pakistan on Nov.16, 1947 who after keeping his dirty feet on the Republic of Gilgit, took benefit of simplicity of the President Shah Rais Khan and involvement of Commander-in-Chief Mirza Hassan Khan in the war, instigated the local simple minded Soonis against Shias and gave the impression that he was from the same sect and had sympathy with them. If local Soonis did not co-operate with him (Pathan Naib Tehsildar) Shias would form a government on this land. Whether it is fortunate or unfortunate that Shias were leading that revolution. Leadership's camposition included 60% Shias, 35% Ismailis and 5% Soonis, while troops composition was 60% Ismailis, 35% Shias and 5% Soonis. Becuase of this above mentioned Pathan from NWFP soon after his arrival, laid sectarian of rift by frightening the Soonis of Shia scale.

Thus local people of Balawaristan (Gilgit Baltistan) became weak due to mutual differences and the foreigners consolidated their clutches. In this way Balawaristan remained independent only for 15 days from November 1st,1947 to November 15th, 1947, while on November 16th, 1947, the dark day with the rise of slavehood sun. Sardar Alam under the sectarian shelter of the local people continued to settle hungry Pathans from NWFP on this, full of resource, land. After some time, military officers under a well conceived conspiracy appeared in this region in the name of assistance in war against India. Mirza Hassan Khan was called to Rawalpindi on some pretext, while considering him a hurdle in the way of their evil designs, he was demoted to the rank of Lieutenant.

See the irony, that this officer had been trained by the Indian military academy of Dehradun, and who while serving in British army had got a military cross in the 2nd world war on Burma front and had snatched 42 thousand sq. miles of the area from the armies of Jammu & Kashmir and India, who was the Commander - in - Chief of the army of Republic of Gilgit, Baltistan. His demotion apparently was a conspiracy of Maj. Brawn (who had been arrested by him) and a Pakistani army officer who had just arrived. Because in his presence they could have not functioned in an autocratic manner. Pakistanis coming in the name of help were not satisfied even over it. They also dismissed the President of the Republic, Raja Shah Raees Khan, and made him a Civil Supplies Officer.

Such humilitary and ingratitude treatment with the freedom fighters does not find any example in the world over. Later, Mirza Hassan Khan was retired from the post of Colonel. After this, Col. Hassan Khan tried to revolt against the illegal occupation of Pakistan several times, as a result he was sent behind bars till his last breath. If India or the Maharaja had recaptured Gilgit Baltistan (Balawaristan), perhaps a few people would have been hanged on the charges of rebellion, but honourable personalities would have not been humiliated in a manner Pakistan did, nor the administrative status of this land would have been reduced in this way. Pakistan, not only demolished an independent state but also not allowed it to become even a province or district after abolishing its status of republic. It was brought at par with a Tehsil by granting it the status of an agency, so that Sardar Alam could be promoted to the post of a Tehsildar. So that the region and Sardar Alam could be equal in status. Because in Pakistan, present

This Naib Tehsildar could never have thought of the post of the political agencies have the status of a Tehsil. President, Governor, Commissioner or even Deputy Commissioner. That is why, unfortunately, the status of the land was also equalised with Sardar Alam by degrading. Thus Sardar Alam Pathan became a political agent. This chain of Pathans is still continuing through different names and designations like a dynasty. Pakistani occupants have been befooling the innocent people by changing the posts time and again, from political agent to residents, resident commissioners, Commissioners, Chief Commissioners, Administrators and now fake names of Chief Secretary and Chief Executive are in progress.

It may be recalled that non muslim rulers of Jammu & Kashmir, while respecting the importance of this great land and the aspiration of the people, had granted it a provincial status. The Maharaja never thought that with the grant of provincial status, muslims would be benefited. There may be demerits in the setup of the Maharaja but during his period, no muslim shedded the blood of another muslim. Nor he fanned the secretarianism and prejudice like Pakistani occupants. Our elders remember the judicial system and the justice of Maharaja even today, in good words.

In spite of being a non-muslim, Maharja never endeavoured to settle Sikhs or Hindus on the land of Muslims. He rather imposed state subject rule for the betterment and prosperity of the people of Gilgit Baltistan and protection of their political, cultural, economical and historical heritage and discouraged non locals in other areas of Jammu & Kashmir. But Pakistani usurpers, by buying a few traitors of this region, snatched away this gift of the Maharaja. They caused severe damage to the economy, politics, cultural and historical heritage and religious hormony of this region, through the Pathans, who were the worshippers of wealth, and converted this heaven like land into a decaying Pathan colony, while India is still honouring state subject rule in spite of rebellion in the Indian occupied Jammu & Kashmir. No single person has been settled by India in Jammu and Kashmir till today. Neither non-state person can acquire the citizenship there, nor purchase any property. While Pakistan is making all its efforts to settle Pathans in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (POK) but no Kahsmiri is ready to accomodate Pathans in the name of religion or sect, like in Balawaristan. As a result, Pakistani rulers and internationally notorious intelligence agency (ISI) are facing difficulties in penetrating Pathans in PoK.

United Nations Commission for India and Pakistan (UNCIP) also provides protection to the state subject rule and Pakistan had been asked that it must pull out its whole army and civilians, who are not residents of Jammu & Kashmir, including Balawaristan within three months, from January 5,1949 when the second resolution passed. Instead of complying with the UNCIP resolution, Pakistan sent armed Pathans in disguise to the disputed region, in such an organised manner, that Gilgit Baltistan even today presents the scene of a Pathan colony. Moreover, it cheated the UN so much at the time when the U.N. observers visited occupied Gilgit Baltistan in 1949, Sardar Alam, political agent, appointed by Pakistan, was presented in the disguise of head of local authority by giving him the cover of Gilgit cap and Chogha. In the begining, Numberdars (village heads) were introduced as members of the local authority. Since 1971, the civilised world is being kept in dark by describing the so-called puppet Northern Areas council as ruling class, but Pakistan will certainly be exposed sooner or later. Now no one will believe its lies and hypocracy.

The people of Pakistan occupied Kashmir (POK) announced establishment of an independent state on October 4th, 1947 after getting 4000 sq. miles of areas separated and on October 24th, only 20 days later, Pakistan exposed this so-called independence by taking the reign of an independent state in its hands after bloody intervention. While Gilgit Baltistan remained an independent state for 15 days and the people of Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK) got the opportunity to remain free only for 20 days. In other words people of both regions were not destined to get freedom. All their scarfices went futile.

Pakistan signed a stand still agreement with Maharaja Hari Singh for not interfering in the affairs of each other. This way preparations for launching a military offensive on Kargil were continued to be made by the trapping Vajpayee in the Lahore agreement, Frontier Force regiment and Frontier Constabulary of NWFP were despatched to Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) in civil garb, soon after the agreement with Maharaja when these so-called Muslim started plundering the people and raping women irrespective of their cast, creed and religions after entering Jammu & Kashmir (J&K). They gang raped girls and sent a large number of women to Heera Mandis (Prostitution homes) of NWFP by considering them the booty.

The Maharaja of Jammu & Kashmir was requested by the Kashmiri people for providing protection. The Maharaja was forced to seek India's help, while India showed reluctance to interfere militarily in the affairs of a sovereign state. At that time Maharaja Hari Singh had no other option than to enter into accession with India for saving the life, property and honour of the Kashmiri masses. Thus Indian forces entered into Kashmir to dislodge Pakistani intruders on 27th October, 1947. When India lodged a complaint with the U.N. regarding Pakistani intrusion, Pakistan denied about the intrusion as it did in recent Kargil war. Later, it said that armed Tribes had infiltrated and Pakistan had no control over them. Ultimately, with U.N. interference, ceasefire was announced in 1949. At that time a conspiracy of giving military training to Colonel Hassan Khan, after calling him to Rawalpindi on the pretext of a meeting, had been hatched. As a result, Indian army not only forced the so-called tribes of Pakistan to retreat by launching attacks, but also recaptured 14 thousand sq. miles of area liberated region of Gilgit Baltistan due to a Pakistani officers impose on the Gilgit Scouts.

After a meeting of heads of Indian and Pakistani armies, which was held in Karachi to ascertain the borders and dispose off other matters after the ceasefire,the Indian army chief wrote a letter to his Pakistani counterpart saying that some of their (of Jammu & Kashmir) abducted girls have not been returned. In reply, the Pakistani Commander-in-Chief wrote to his Indian counterpart, that he has ordered the return of the girls. This evidence is present on the record of the U.N. If, as Pakistan claims, they were tribals on which it had no control, what was the justification of Pakistan army chief's order to tribals for returning the abducted Kashmiri girls.

It was in the same fashion, Pakistan has done by involving Northern Light Infantry (NLI) in Kargil but propagating false claim through ISI backed media, that Mujahideen (terrorists) are fighting in Kargil and that its army was not involved. Later, withdrawal of NLI was ordered under the pressure of U.S. President Bill Clinton (Because USA was and is aware of Pakistan's conspiracy and hypocratic role). As you know that a lie has no feet to stand upon, ISI while committing blunders, sponsored demonstrations against Nawaz-Clinton agreement by religious groups and so-called Mujahideen. All of them jointly announced their decision of not withdrawing from Kargil. While on the other hand, withdrawal of NLI took place and not even a single person belonging to ISI's puppet and so-called religious groups and Kashmiri Mujahideen (terrorists) was seen on the Kargil heights. I apologise for making a reference to Pakistan's hypocracy, falsehood and deceit from 1947 to May 1999.

When Pakistan was admonished at the U.N. on India's complaint, it again got Balawaristan (Gilgit Baltistan) declared a part of Jammu & Kashmir state, through wickedness and temptation and denied the freedom of this region, so that in case of a plebiscite, entire Jammu & Kashmir could became a part of Pakistan due to votes of these simple hearts and foolish Gilgiti Balties.

But the situation today is different. It must be remembered that on August 13th, 1948, UNCIP, resolution grants the right to choice one of the three options. It is the discretion of the people of Jammu & Kashmir (including Gilgit Baltistan) that they vote in favour of Pakistan or India, through right of self-determination or they vote in favour of their independent state. But through Jan.5th, 1949 resolution this so-called Muslims country Pakistan deprived people of Jammu & Kashmir (including Gilgit Baltistan) of their right of total freedom. India also did not oppose Pakistan's proposal, be it brought no harm to it.

I am a supporter not an opponent of freedom of people of Jammu & Kashmir (irrespective of cast, creed and religion), if this freedom is acquired by the people of Jammu & Kashmir through their own might instead of that of ISI or its agents. Because the people of Afghanistan are paying the price of ISI's freedom and intervention, which had been based on dollars and hatred, since the last two decades. After getting occupied Balawaristan declared it as a disputed territory, Pakistani occupants while keeping this land deprived of the rights available to the people of both parts of the disputed Jammu & Kashmir, Indian Occupied Kashmir (IoK) & Pakistan Occupied Kashmir(POK) since the past half century, give illogical justification and say that occupied Balawaristan (Gilgit Balawaristan) is a part of disputed Jammu & Kashmir, therefore rights cannot be given to it.

Since over past 52 years, Balawaristan is being punished apparently for an un-committed sin. Perhaps God may have not liked the treatment meted out to the army of the ruler of Jammu & Kashmir and Hindus by our elders, 52 years ago brutally. For which we are being punished since long. How short lived our freedom was. Freedom from November 1st, 1947 to November 15th, 1947 and yoke of slavery on November 16th, 1947. The difference was of religion only, earlier we were the respectable and sovereign masses of a non Muslim ruler. After November 16th, 1947 wicked and so-called Muslin having become our so-called ruler caused a fatal blow on our self respect and internal sovereignty.

Today's youth are justified in holding the innocent and foolish army soldiers (Gilgit Scouts) responsible, who surprised the world by defeating Maharaja's mighty Army without any planning, but also established a new record of foolishness in the world by not expelling a third class and wicked Pathan (Sardar Alam). Admission of the gallantry of people of Balawaristan ( Gilgit Balistan) is, in the record of U.N. It says that they ( Gilgit Scouts and local people) are the best fighters of the world. They are capable to stop any external aggression. In the recent Kargil fighting, NLI like Gilgit Scouts gave tough time to Indian Army, while following the foot steps of their elders.

In brief the battle against the Maharaja of Jammu & Kashmir in 1947 was an outcome of a blunder by our soldiers. Even then if Sardar Alam had been beheaded on the charges of spreading communal prejudice against the brothers, no one would have dared to play with the future of this great land or at least if he had been forced to do official work by keeping him under control, the great nation would not have faced humiliation today. We would not have been the most deprived nation in the world and the sacrifices of our elders would have not gone waste. And today the whole Balawaristan would have not be presenting the scene of a Pathan colony.

Now it is the duty of loyal, dignified and honest youth of Balawaristan (Gilgit Baltistan) that you must get rid the nation of external ill-wishers and internal agents. Organise and unite the nation by erasing above all prejudices and differences, clouted by the enemies and their sold out agents (whether these agents are goverment servants or disguised notables or politicians) so that you could present your Balawaristan nation from Shinaki Kohistan to Chitral and from Khunjrab to Baltistan and Ladakh as an independent, sovereign and respectable nation before the world.

This country of yours is bigger than 41 countries in respect of population and 73 countries of the world, size-wise. While it can become the most prosperous country in the world of resources, if free. Now I will put light on the inhuman treatment meted out to occupied Balawaristan and certain terms and various aspects of the Kashmir issue. I am neither a writer nor an intellectual, nor I am a linguist. Thus, I request loyalists and sympathizers of my land that they should ignore my literary mistakes but should not display carelessness in identifying technical and historical lacunas. This bitter reality, however, will serve as a fatal poison for the enemy, while destroying all it's tactics and apprise our young generation of the reality.