Protests in Gilgit Baltistan Echo at the United Nations: A Region on the Brink

Gilgit Baltistan, a mountainous region in the far north of Pakistan, is making headlines far beyond its borders. From mass protests over soaring food prices and electricity shortages to calls for constitutional clarity and human rights, the unrest in this remote area has now reached the global stage, including the United Nations.

In recent months, the region has seen a groundswell of public anger driven by deep-rooted issues – economic hardship, political marginalisation, land disputes, and climate-related threats. The situation came to a head earlier this month when human rights violations in Gilgit Baltistan were raised during the 60th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council.

For South African observers, the events in Gilgit Baltistan may seem distant. Yet the grievances raised echo familiar themes: the struggle for democratic representation, resistance against economic exploitation, and the fight for environmental justice.

A Region in Turmoil

Tensions in Gilgit Baltistan are not new. However, they have intensified significantly since early 2024. What started as protests against a steep increase in subsidised flour prices quickly grew into a broader movement challenging the region's political and economic status.

In January 2024, tens of thousands took to the streets after the price of flour jumped from 20 to 36 rupees per kilogram. Long power outages of up to 22 hours a day further fuelled public outrage. Demonstrations were organised across all districts under the banner of the Avami Joint Stock Committee, a coalition of civil society and political groups.

By mid-2025, the protests expanded to include business owners and traders. The closure of the Karakorum highway in Sust, a key border town with China, brought cross-border trade to a halt for 40 days. Over 200 trucks were left stranded at a dry port, incurring losses estimated in the billions. The protesters adopted the slogan "no tax without authorisation," questioning the legality of taxes in a region without constitutional recognition or parliamentary representation.

Constitutional Limbo

Gilgit Baltistan occupies a peculiar place in Pakistan’s political structure. Though administered like a province, it lacks formal recognition in the country’s constitution. This has created ongoing friction between Islamabad and the local population.

A decree in 2009 granted limited autonomy, but stopped short of extending full constitutional rights. This grey area has now become the focal point of legal and civic unrest. Residents argue that if the region is not recognised as a province, then the federal government has no right to impose taxes or make land decisions affecting the local population.

Following this wave of protests, a seven-member tax commission was formed to review the status of income tax, excise duties, and levies on Chinese imports. However, this move is widely seen as a token gesture rather than a genuine attempt to address the core problem.

Land and Water: The Heart of the Conflict

Another major source of conflict is land ownership. Protesters and opposition politicians have criticised the Khalsa Sarkar laws, which they claim allow the government to seize land without fair compensation. This has led to the displacement of entire communities and the redistribution of land to politically connected elites.

Hydropower projects have also triggered unrest. The Diamer Bhasha dam project is set to become one of the largest in Pakistan’s history, with a planned capacity of 4500 megawatts and water storage covering 8.1 million acres. Yet the human cost is staggering. More than 30 000 people are due to be relocated. By 2018, over 14 000 acres of private land had already been acquired, displacing 32 villages.

Locals have called for a fair share of the revenue generated by these megaprojects. In 2024, the Gilgit Baltistan government formally demanded a portion of net hydropower income from the federal treasury. So far, no progress has been made.

Climate and Demographic Pressures

Climate change has worsened the region’s vulnerabilities. The Shishper Glacier overflowed in 2022, destroying the Hasanabad Bridge and cutting off access to Upper Hunza. Such incidents are becoming increasingly common, further straining infrastructure and livelihoods.

The demographic shift is also fuelling tensions. As of 2025, the population is estimated to be 41 percent Shia, 30 percent Sunni, 24 percent Ismaili, and six percent Nurbakhshi. Local leaders accuse authorities of facilitating the settlement of Sunni investors from outside the region to shift the demographic balance, sparking fears of marginalisation among minority sects.

Global Attention and the UN Response

The situation reached a global platform when concerns about Gilgit Baltistan were raised at the United Nations Human Rights Council on September 10. Delegates cited violations of Article 49 of the Geneva Convention, which prohibits the transfer of the population of an occupying power into the territory it occupies.

Human rights groups have urged the UN to pressure the Pakistani government to recognise the rights of the people of Gilgit Baltistan. While some diplomats acknowledged the seriousness of the allegations, no formal resolution has yet been passed.

A Wake Up Call

The crisis in Gilgit Baltistan is a warning about what can happen when a region is denied full representation, stripped of its natural resources, and left vulnerable to climate disaster. South Africans, with their own history of land rights struggles and demands for constitutional justice, may find a sense of solidarity in the plight of the people of Gilgit Baltistan.