After a month of persistent protests across Pakistan-Occupied Gilgit Baltistan (POGB), the region is now witnessing a comprehensive shutdown. District headquarters, multiple towns, and villages in POGB have ground to a halt, with Gilgit, Skardu, Diamer, Ghizer, Astore, Shighar, Ghanche, Khar¬mang, Hunza, and Nagar all participating in the shutdown on January 26 and 27.

Protest sites such as Yadgar-i-Shuhada Chowk in Skardu and Garibagh in Gilgit, which have been focal points of the demonstrations, saw a substantial influx of protestors. Common people from all corners of POGB took to the streets, participating in sit-ins and demonstrations against the recent increase in wheat prices. Meanwhile, numerous convoys, involving tens of thousands of people from various districts, are en route to Gilgit and Skardu, marking a more unified and determined phase of the protest.

In a groundbreaking move, convoys from Yasin and Gojal valley have already departed for Gilgit, symbolizing the expanding geographical scope of the protest movement.

It’s noteworthy that the protest intensity in POGB has escalated. Initially centered around the reinstatement of the wheat subsidy, the protest now encompasses a broader spectrum of demands. The Awami Action Committee has declared 15 demands, emphasizing their non-negotiable stance, stating that the protests will only cease when each demand is met.

15 Demands of Awami Action Committee

• Reinstate the wheat subsidy to its 2022 levels, providing 9 kg of wheat per month.
• Abolish the Gilgit Baltistan Finance Act 2023 and all taxes levied in the region.
• Increase pulse production, ending the crisis created by the occupying governments.
• Establish an NFC-style financial agreement between the occupying POGB government and the Pakistani establishment.
• Declare all uninhabited and barren lands as 100% public property.
• Establish a Constituent Assembly in place of the Gilgit-Baltistan puppet Assembly.
• Allocate 80% of Net Hydel Profits and Water User Rights of Diamer Bhasha Dam to Gilgit Baltistan, free of charge.
• Cancel mining leases granted to non-indigenous persons and lease them to local people.
• Grant industry status to tourism-related hotels and transport in POGB.
• Build a Twitter account to promote tourism and provide efficient travel facilities.
• Establish Medical and Engineer War Lodges in POGB.
• Establish a Women’s University for women in POGB.
• Restore ancient highways and roads in Gilgit-Baltistan immediately.
• Divide PSDP projects, award contracts to the local contracting community of POGB, and focus on poverty eradication.
• Assign the wheat supply contract to the provincial organization NATCO to recover the organization from losses.

Nonetheless, in response to the escalating protests and shutdown, Pakistan and its puppet government in POGB are resorting to power. Reports suggest that Section 144 has been imposed for one month on any form of protest on the Siachen highway as well as internet services provided by the Pakistan Army-controlled SCO have been also deactivated

In a powerful demonstration of solidarity with the protestors of Pakistan-occupied Gilgit Baltistan (POGB), AWP-GB leader Baba Jan has issued an urgent call for a protest scheduled for tomorrow, January 28. The demonstration, set to take place at 3 p.m. in front of the National Press Club in Islamabad, aims to amplify the voices of the oppressed and draw attention to their demands for fundamental rights.

Residents of Pak occupied Gilgit-Baltistan have been protesting for over a month against the recent abolition of wheat subsidies as well as health cards along with the imposition of the Finance Act 2023, and persistent issues like load shedding. Despite weeks of peaceful demonstrations, the Islamabad-backed puppet government in POGB has failed to address the core concerns of the people.

The Awami Action Committee, under whose aegis the protest is ongoing, has now declared 15 demands from the Pakistani regime. These demands include the restoration of essential subsidies, reinstatement of health cards, and the repeal of the Finance Act 2023.

As the protests intensify, the residents are determined to make their grievances known, taking their calls for justice and fairness directly to the heart of the authoritarian regime.

A non descript village in the Poonch district of the Union Territory [UT] of J&K, Pir Topa has only about 30-35 houses with a population of approximately 250-300. Its residents belong to the traditional grazier Gujjar and Bakkarwal community and their main source of income is from livestock. This area is remote and lacks road connectivity with the Deera ki Gali [DKG] – Bafliaz Road [also known as the ‘Mughal Road’]. In addition, Pir Topa doesn’t have any hospital or dispensary, primary school, electricity or water storage facilities.

Like people in other remote areas, the older generations of Pir Topa may have adjusted themselves to a primitive way of life as well as lack of basic amenities and opportunities. However, the present generation is more aware and aspires for better educational facilities and access to other civic conveniences. With the center along with state and UT administrations working on a war footing to provide basic amenities and infrastructure, such expectations from the impoverished people of Pir Topa is but natural.

Appreciating the legitimate aspirations of its residents, Udhampur based Northern Command of the Indian Army has taken the considered decision of ‘adopting’ and making the frontier Pir Topa a model village as part of its Sadhbhavana project. Working in close coordination with the UT and district administrations, the army plans to undertake various projects to make Pir Topa a model village in the region.

Accordingly, this village will see a host of developmental initiatives in the next three years in the field of infrastructural development, health, education, human resource and skill development. While construction of a road to connect Pir Topa with the DKG-Bafliaz Mughal Road will greatly improve accessibility, provision of water storage facilities and execution of a solar energy project will provide running water and reliable source of electricity to the villagers.

The setting up of a vocational training centre will be an invaluable asset that will provide the youth with the basic competence to acquire requisite skills and thereby enhance their employment prospects. Regular conduct of medical and veterinary camps will facilitate timely medical attention to the villagers and their livestock respectively while a community centre with indoor recreational facilities will provide an opportunity for people of all ages to congregate and interact with each other.

‘Adoption’ of Pir Topa by the Indian Army for making it a model village isn’t the first such initiative. On the contrary, it’s part of an ongoing process of the Indian army’s untiring and multifaceted outreach to improve the habitat and quality of life of locals living in remote areas.

The deluge of success stories reported by highly reputed and independent sources recounting how thousands of people living in far-flung areas in both the UT of J&K and Ladakh have benefitted from the Sadhbhavana project speaks for itself and as such this public oriented welfare project deserves due appreciation.

Awami Action Committee in Pakistan occupied Gilgit Baltistan (POGB) is completing its one-month agitation on January 26, which it started over the abolition of wheat subsidy by the Pakistani regime. Now the committee has confirmed that its protest will continue and would actually intensify with the upcoming Plan B. In just a month the protest took the form of a movement which saw participations from not only the non-government organisations but also the common people including women and children. It is of immense significance to note that these protests endured the chilling winters with a temperature as low as -5⁰ C. Despite this bone chilling season, the protestors’ determination remained undeterred.

Unfortunately, this struggle for the rights and basic amenities by the people was completely ignored by the occupying government and Islamabad. In fact, it was on the orders of Islamabad that this wheat subsidy along with health cards was abolished. To the worse,  a new Finance Act 2023 was introduced to impose irrationally increased taxes over the people of POGB. In one month, the protestors used every platform to call for the solution of their problems, failing which, they warned, strong initiative would be taken.

But since Pakistan ignored the calls considering them to be hollow rhetoric, the populace of POGB had no option but to intensify the protests. In line with that, a convoy of tens of thousands of people  with vehicles from Nagar started a long march to Gilgit, the visuals of which are thought provoking. In its 76 years of captivity history, Gilgit Baltistan has never saw such a huge number of people coming out of their house in chilling winters to get their righteous heard.

Awami Action Committee preparing Plan B

While the long march from Nagar is reaching Gilgit headquarters, the Awami Action Committee has extended full support to the long march and explained its further course of action. Talking about the first increase in wheat price in 2023, the leaders of Awami Action Committee have referred to the decision as equivalent to dropping the bomb over the innocent people.

Nonetheless, as per the current program, the protest from the Gilgit division, Ashtore and Diamer would reach Gilgit while the four districts of Baltistan region namely, Shigar, Kharmang, Ghanche and Skardu will reach Skardu headquarters. Accordingly, the committee is in contact with its coordinators in every district and other stakeholders like transporters association. Moreover, the committee has reaffirmed its decision of holding a complete shutdown on January 26^th and 27^th and stated that after the shutdown, a comprehensive Plan B for further action would be declared with a proper charter.

Pakistan occupied Gilgit Baltistan (POGB) which is under the illegal occupation of Pakistan has been grappling with the existential challenges. While Pakistan always propagated that they are free, their condition be it political or financial, has only deteriorated. In the age of social media, when the information transcends the border with unadulterated accuracy, people of POGB have came to know that they have only been plundered on the pretext of freedom, while they still live in captivity where their righteous demands are not even addressed.  

In a high-level joint security meeting convened to assess preparedness in the Kashmir Zone ahead of Republic Day, Director General of Police R.R Swain revealed on Wednesday that Pakistan and its agencies persist in their efforts to reignite terrorism in parts of Jammu and Kashmir. Expressing concerns over serious attempts by external handlers to infiltrate terrorists into the region, Swain urged for heightened security measures and the reinforcement of security grids.

Highlighting the urgency posed by cross-border handlers to create disturbances in the region, the DGP emphasized the need for field formations to thoroughly examine intelligence inputs from various agencies. He urged for decisive actions to thwart subversive attempts, urging a reassessment of security measures at vulnerable locations and for individuals.

Swain directed the bolstering of the human intelligence system and the strategic use of modern tools to track down terrorists. He also stressed on the identification of technologies employed by terrorists, calling for the development of counter-strategies. Additionally, the DGP emphasized the identification and dismantling of new forms of terror modules, all within the confines of the law.

Strict vigilance before Republic Day

Officers were instructed to conduct detailed reviews of terrorism threat scenarios in their respective areas, with an emphasis on fixing responsibility within the hierarchy. Swain underscored the importance of comprehensive briefings by senior officers to on-field personnel to ensure the peaceful conduct of Republic Day celebrations.

Strict monitoring and subsequent action against the terror support system were highlighted, with a directive to create special monitoring teams to identify any elements providing support to terrorists. Swain further directed officers to implement optimal security arrangements at all venues across Kashmir, leveraging all available resources.

The meeting, held at the Police Control Room Kashmir, saw the participation of officers from Police, Army, CRPF, BSF, SSB, CISF, and other sister agencies. Discussions during the meeting delved into the security of vulnerable areas, individuals, and places, with a focus on intelligence gathering, area domination, Naka checking, and the security of sensitive locations.