Sectarian violence in Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan

November 5 2012: Whilst sectarian violence is rife within Pakistan, it is often misrepresented as terrorism. This is causing the issue to go undiagnosed and thus resources are not adequately directed to cure the problem. Zahid Shahab Ahmed explores the issue of sectarian violence within the city of Gilgit-Baltistan in the north of Pakistan.

Babusar pass, Gilgit-Balistan.

Babusar pass, Gilgit-Balistan. Photo by Jon Martin uploaded under a Creative Commons licence.

There is a need to acknowledge how deep-rooted sectarianism in Pakistan is
Since 2001, terrorism has grown to become the biggest threat to security and political integrity in Pakistan, although a range of internal security threats are still present in the form of widespread sectarianism, religious extremism, and violent ethnic disputes. Some of these challenges are inter-linked. The focus of this article is on sectarianism, which often receives less attention because the incidents of sectarian violence are mostly labelled as acts of terrorism.

Because of this, the issue quickly disappears from policy-making circles and media. There is a need to acknowledge how deep-rooted this issue is, as recent episodes of sectarian violence in the country have raised eyebrows within the domestic and international community regarding the protection of religious and ethnic minorities in Pakistan.

Sectarianism in Pakistan

Sectarian violence in Pakistan occasionally erupts between the Sunni and Shia strands of Islam, where approximately 70 percent of the Muslim population in Pakistan are Sunni, compared to the 20 percent of Muslims that comprise the Shia population. Small factions of militant groups exist in both religious groups, such as the Sunni Sipah-e-Sahaba and Shia Sipah-e-Muhammad.

Sectarianism surfaced during General Zia-ul-Haq’s era in the 1980s through his policies of Islamisation. Whilst Saudi Arabian and Iranian state funding for Sunni and Shia militant groups in Pakistan is often blamed for sectarian violence, it is clear that a major root cause of sectarian violence is the lack of good governance in the country. This creates opportunities for Pakistan to be used as a battleground for both internal and external extremism.

It is clear that a major root cause of sectarian violence is the lack of good governance in the country.
Since 2001 incidents of sectarian violence have grown. According to figures from the South Asia Terrorism Portal, 631 incidents of sectarian violence took place in Pakistan between 2007 and 2011, which led to the deaths of roughly 1600 people.

Gilgit-Baltistan

So far in Gilgit-Baltistan, over 50 people have been killed in sectarian violence that begun in August 2012. These casualties highlight the need for greater attention from local and international communities.

Gilgit-Baltistan covers an area of 72,971 km2 with an  estimated population of 1.8 million. This mountainous region borders with Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhunkhwa province to the west, Afghanistan’s Wakhan Corridor to the north, China to the east and northeast, Pakistan-held Kashmir (Azad Kashmir) to the southwest, and Indian-held Jammu and Kashmir to the southeast. Together with the Pakistan-controlled Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan forms part of the disputed Kashmir region – a major cause of conflict between India and Pakistan for the past 60 years.

The population of Gilgit-Baltistan is comprised of many diverse ethnic groups, including Shins, Yashkuns, Kashiris, Kashgaris, Pathans, and Kohistanis. Although Urdu is the national language of Pakistan, it is also understood in the region, whilst the area’s dominant religion is  Ismailism, a branch of Shia Islam.

Control of the region has been stifled by attempts to limit its autonomy.. In 1993, for example, the government of Azad Kashmir tried to annex Gilgit-Baltinstan – an attempt that was halted by the Supreme Court of Pakistan. In addition, the Shia population of Gilgit-Baltistan strongly opposed this move of the Sunni-dominated Azad Kashmir, for fear of domination and exclusion.

Sectarian violence in Gilgit-Baltistan

The most recent wave of violence surfaced in the region on 28th February 2012, when masked extremists killed 16 passengers on four buses in the Hurban area of Kohistan. This issue received greater international attention than ever before, because those responsible recorded a video of this incident and shared it via the internet. Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan claimed responsibility for this attack. Since then, the law and order situation in Gilgit-Baltistan has worsened.

In April 2012, the violence erupted again in the city of Gilgit, when masked men riding a motorcycle hurled a hand grenade at Sunni activists that were forcing shopkeepers to close their shops in support of a strike they had called. By August 2012, more than 30 lives had been lost in Gilgit, and finally the Army was called upon to take control of the city. Whilst this government intervention created calmness in the region,  it does not provide a long-term solution to the problem of sectarianism.

Responding to sectarianism

For long-term solutions, however, the government needs to create mechanisms for mainstreaming religious and ethnic minorities in every area
The people of Gilgit-Baltistan, alongside a few political parties and members of the international community, have been putting pressure on the government to take some serious actions in response to recent incidents in the region. So far, no concrete measures have been taken, although some have been attempted. In August 2012, for example, a parliamentary panel on human rights sent a fact-finding mission to the region in order to examine the targeted and sectarian killings, but no report has as yet been produced. It is due to this level of inaction that a large number of religious and ethnic minorities, such as the Shias of Hazara ethnicity and some Hindus, have been migrating from Pakistan to countries such as Australia and India.

The short-term solutions require that all those involved in Gilgit-Baltistan violence would face prosecution, in addition to a permanent ban on militant outfits of both Shias and Sunnis. For long-term solutions, however, the government needs to create mechanisms for mainstreaming religious and ethnic minorities in every area, especially at the decision-making levels and law enforcement. In doing this, Pakistan would stand a much better chance of addressing this serious problem. Considering Gilgit-Baltistan’s link to the Kashmir dispute with India, Pakistan needs to address the issue of sectarian violence in this region more seriously if it is to prove itself worthy of claiming a right over Kashmir.

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Comments

There are 3 comments Show comments

truth about pakistan on November 13, 2012

terrorism has distroyed pakistan and tourism industry also and government is doing nothing

Kaiser Hameed Khan on January 13, 2013

Dear Dr.Zahid Shahab Ahmed,
The situation in Gilgit is not as simple as you have tried to explain, nor is it going undiagnosed.It is fairly easy studying statistics and writing a paper without having visited the area and having gone through the real underlying issues. The main point of concern here is that with your qualifications and position the world will tend to believe what you profess which I am afraid lacks substantial substance! I am also aware that in your position the more articles that you publish, you get more recognition ( sadly at the cost of tainting the correct perspective about your own motherland)
To understand the Situation in Gilgit Baltistan you must first study the background history of the region from the perspectives of, politics and the psyche of the people of the region, then the Interests of the external powers in the region who benefit from the destabilization of peace.The political movements and who sponsors them. Also the influence from surrounding areas and lastly the socio economic influences.
It is very easy to blame a dead man(Gen Zia) for the sectarianism in Pakistan but if we were to believe you, was he also responsible for the Iran Iraq war? Shia Suni conflict in the Middle East, Hammas etc.
I belong to the region and am sure it would be a surprise for you to learn that even now intermarriages between the sunni and Shia factions do occur.Neither the Sunni not the Shia Communities approve of the violence, both the communities believe it is some hidden hand which perpetuates sectarianism. I am sure you being a Muslim do believe there is no room for sectarianism in Islam.This has been imposed on us, it never existed before.

With due respect to your acquired qualifications and knowledge, I believe as an ambassador of your country which is passing through a very difficult time, you need to shed some light on the following;-
1. The literacy rate,poverty and the psyche of the local population.
2.The history of revolt of these people from the Sikh oppressive rulers in 1947.
3.The incursion of India into Siachin, in the 1980s and the beginning of sectarianism in Gilgit Baltistan, the main cause of the beginning of sectarianism in Gilgit Baltistan.
4. The role of the Mullah, who is known as an Alim (Phd of religion in the local parlance). In a society which lacks both religious and formal education.
5. The inefficiency of the local Government and prevalence of corruption in the political system.
6.In spite of an abundance of natural resources,the non seriousness of the government in harnessing them resulting in alleviation of poverty, prosperity and elimination of discontent.
7.The link between the unpopular Balawaristan National Front and Indian RAW, particularly role of Mr.B. Raman (Ex Director RAW) in writing articles and speeches for this separatist movement.
The main dilemma of my country Pakistan is that learned people who could contribute in improving the situation, have left for foreign countries in search for a better living!Nations are never built like this. the people of a a nation give their sweat and blood to build a nation to make it an abode of peace and prosperity fro their future generations. I would prefer dying for this nation rather than going abroad for a better life.Having said that I now blame politicians and intellectuals alike for rising from this nation to ultimately transfer their intellectual and material wealth to foreign nations who thrive on dreary stories about Pakistan.
I wonder what will become of the bread and butter of the people who thrive on the crisis of Pakistan, if and ever the situation in Pakistan improves.

Sher Khan on March 5, 2013

I agree cent percent with Mr. Kaiser Hameed Khan. I am asenior citizen who has seen the peaceful and decent times of Pakistan, when Organizations grew a at an exemplary rate, people had values and honesty was the best policy. People went abroad to acquire education and returned ultimately to grace their country with education.The country was overwhelmed with a so called revolution in the early 70s when the peoples democracy came to uproot the very foundations of our success. People became materialistic and dishonesty became the best policy, This state has continued ever since and now success stories such as PIA, Pakistan Railways and other notable organizations are on teh verge of Bankruptcy.Why is this so? because the educated lot has decided to give up their roots and take up better material remuneration at the cost of demonizing their own very country!
What a shame ! intellectuals disassociate themselves from the vices in our society now and sit at a distance to create a dreary scenario about Pakistan.
Our youngsters who join the forces sacrifice their lives for the sake of cleansing the country of terrorists and miscreants . Such remarks by welll read people belittle the sacrifices of our Patriots.

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