A lesser known organization ‘South Asian Friends’ Thursday staged a protest against Pakistan’s alleged move to make Gilgat Baltistan one of her province.
Reports said that a group of people headed by Chairman SAF Saleem Reshi emerged outside UNMOGIP office here at Sonwar Srinagar. They were carrying placards opposing the Pakistan’s move to annex Gilgat Baltistan.The protesters who chanted slogans like ‘Lakhanpor say Gilgat tak, Kashmir hamara hain’ demanded that the original geographical shape of J&K territory as it existed in 1947 should be restored.Saleem Reshi told CNS that the recent decision of Pakistan to declare Gilgat-Baltistan as their fifth Province has the potential for large-scale violence and disturbance in the region, if implemented.“Pakistan’s decision to integrate Gilgat-Baltistan has apparently been taken under Chinese pressure which wants some legitimacy for GB before it starts investing in the region under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor plan,” he said and added that such a move from Pakistan will give India an opportunity to abolish Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir. (CNS)