15. Lease of Gilgit Wizarat-1935. Refer Annex C.
Owing to growing British interests and Great Game factor (fear of Russian aggression), British established Gilgit Agency in 1889, to deal the external affairs with the States. The Agency remained in the control of the British; however, the civil administration of Gilgit Wazarat was run by State of Kashmir. This peculiar arrangement created a dual control which was worrying the British Political Agent here. It was to meet this difficulty that British affected the lease deal with Maharaja of Kashmir. Maharaja was given only suzerain status over local rulers but the territory was never recognized as
Maharaja‟s territory. After the lease the British Political Agent became the local head of civil, military and judicial powers and Kashmir State’s interference was restricted to obtaining consensus in case of succession of local rulers or hoisting of State’s flags at the official Headquarters of army and exploration of minerals rights were reserved with Maharaja of
Kashmir. The lease was enforced for a period of 60 years. It was a fulfillment of their aims that Corps of Gilgit Scouts was raised as a local force of levies in 1889 by Col Durand.
16. The End of British Rule.
At the end of World War II, the victorious imperial powers were not in a position to continue their rule over colonies as the people had been yearning to free themselves from the reigns of imperial rules1 9. Gilgit-Baltistan was a small area not much known, when seen in the overall context of partition plan. Should the territory be formally handed over to chieftains or to Maharaja was a question, as formally the area was under the suzerainty of State of Jammu and Kashmir, although the territory fell outside the boundaries of the State, except the leased area of 1935 Agreement. The officials forgot that the agreement was only for Gilgit Wazarat and not for the other parts of the Agency. Mountbatten never seems to have consulted Mr. Jinnah or Liaqat Ali Khan on the question, and wanted to end the lease and handover entire area to Maharaja of Kashmir. Finally on first August 1947, Gilgit Agency was handed over to Maharaja of Kashmir, in a ceremony and Brigadier Ghansara Singhformally assumed the responsibilities as Governor of Gilgit Wazarat.
17. War of Gilgit-Baltistan Liberation.
Gilgit-Baltistan freedom struggle was an independent affair, though influenced by the currents in South Asia but fought separately by its own people and military men posted there. The Muslim officers of Kashmir State Forces played a leading role, yet the struggle was not a part of Kashmir campaign. The State Army Officers were certainly motivated by an overall Muslim demand in the State of Jammu and Kashmir, yet because of local geographic factor, their activity was limited to Northern Areas. Gilgit was a frontier district, just handed over by the British and Maharaja had to re-establish the authority both civil and military, in this part. The turning of old age suzerainty into real permanent power over the local Rulers and people after the lapse of British sovereignty was a big issue. The Maharaja believed that loyalty of local Rulers to him would guarantee his authority there. Hence he invited Mirs of Hunza, Nagar and Puniyal to Srinagar and they apparently gave their diplomatic loyalty. However, according to Major Brown, Mir of Hunza and Nagar had shown their inability to prove their loyalty to Maharaja, against the wishes of the public. Although there was no political party and political movement in Gilgit-Baltistan in 1947, little doubt existed about public sentiments in favour of Pakistan. Gilgit Scouts, mostly comprising the local tribes was the main force in Gilgit under command of Major Brown, while the 6th Battalion of Jammu and Kashmir Rifles (mix of Muslims and Sikhs), and was at Bunji. Prior to independence, the Scouts were paid by the British Raj, however on the eve of the return of the Agency, rumor spread that because of the loyalty issues the Scouts may be disband. Moreover, there was a difference between pay and allowances and concession between troops of Maharaja Forces and Gigit Scouts. Brigadier Ghansara Singh on assumption of the appointment wished to obtain the oath of loyalty from Gilgit Scouts, who refused to do so before the fulfillment of their
demands of bringing the forces at par with the State Forces.
18. Meanwhile underground planning for coup détat against Maharaja Forces was under way, in case Maharaja decided to join India. The plan in rough shape was to arrest the Governor (Brigadier Ghansara Singh) and his administrators in Gilgit by Gilgit Scouts and wipe out Sikh troops of 6 Jammu and Kashmir Rifles stationed at Bunji, confiscate weapons and ammunition from the State Forces and seek help from leaders in Pakistan. According to plan, a squad of Gilgit Scouts besieged Brigadier Ghansara Singh at his residence on the night of 31 October / 1 November 1947 and arrested him. The reinforcement for Gilgit from Bunji and reinforcement for Bunji from Srinagar through Astor was effectively checked by establishing blocking positions on the bridge on River Indus and Astor River. The Dogra and Sikh troops of 6 Jammu and Kashmir Rifles deserted Bunji camp on 3rd November 1947 and the garrison with heavy arms and ammunition fell without firing a single shot. This was followed by pursuit and consolidation phase. The liberation force was organized in three groups launched a three pronged advance as under.
(i) Tiger Force under Colonel Mirza Hassan advanced along axis Bunji - Astor - Zojila Pass.
(ii) (ii) Eskimo Force under Captain Muhammad Shah Khan moved along axis Bunji – Deosai
- Burzil-Dras-Kargil
(iii) (iii) Ibex Force under Colonel Ehsan Ali advanced along up Stream of Indus River in Skardu Valley.
19. These forces fought courageously despite all the odds of terrain, weather and organizational deficiencies and were able to liberate the area up to line Zojila - Dras-Kargil - Leh, by the end of first quarter of 1948. However, Zojila, Dras, Kargil and Leh, but were recaptured by Indian forces through counter offensive by overwhelming forces. It is worth mentioning here that according to Subedar Major Babar Khan, he sent telegrams to Muslim leaders of Pakistan
soon after 14th August but no reply was received.
20. Establishment of Provisional Government.
Between 1st and 3rd November 1947, a Provisional Government was formed with Raja Shah Rais Khan as President of the Provisional Government, Colonel Mirza Hasan Khan as the Head of Military Affairs and Leader of Revolutionary Movement, Captain Durrani Deputy Leader, Lieutenant Ghulam Haider Political Agent, Subedar Major Babar Khan Quarter Master, Raja Sultan Hameed as Police Chief and Major Brown as advisor. A wireless message was sent to the government of Pakistan to send a civil administrator and take over the administrative control.
21. Governance in Post-Independence Era.
On the invitation of Provisional Government, Sardar Alam Khan, the designated representative of Government of Pakistan landed in Gilgit on 16th November 1947 and assumed the appointment of Political Agent. Later, in pursuance to
an order of Governor General, dated 6th April 1948, the Political Resident in North West Frontier Province, based in Peshawar, was directed to act as Agent to Governor General for Gilgit Agency, including Princely States. Northern Areas were thus placed under the administrative control of then North West Frontier Province. U nited Nations Resolution. On 1st January 1948, India formally referred the case of Pakistan’s aggression in Kashmir to United Nations Security Council (UNSC) under article 35 of United Nations Charter. Consequently, on 20th January 1948, a three member delegation visited scene of fighting.
22. On 21 January 1948, United Nations Commission for India and Pakistan (UNCIP), composed of five members was established, with following mandate :-
a. Holding of immediate cease fire by both India and Pakistan.
b. Withdrawal of all tribesmen and Pakistanis.
c. Reduction of forces level by India on restoration of normalcy.
d. The administration of plebiscite by India.
23. Karachi Agreement. Refer Annex D. In March 1949, an agreement was signed by Mr. Mushtaque Ahmad Gormani, Minister without Portfolio Governments of Pakistan, Sardar Muhammad Ibrahim Khan the President of Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Choudhry Ghulam Abbas head of All Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference, in which, matters relating to
Kashmir affairs were broadly distributed as under:-
- M atters in Purview of Government of Pakistan. Matters included, defense, foreign affairs, dealing with United Nations Commission for India and Pakistan, relief and rehabilitation of refugees and governance affairs / administrative control of Gilgit-Baltistan. This agreement further enhanced the legitimacy of control ofGilgit-Baltistan by Government of Pakistan.
- M atters in Purview of Government of Azad Jammu and Kashmir. Responsible for internal management and administration of Azad Jammu and Kashmir and rendering advice to Government of Pakistan about United Nations Commission for India and Pakistan.
24. Transfer to Ministry of Kashmir Affairs. In 1950, the control of Northern Areas was transferred from North West Frontiers Province, to Ministry of Kashmir Affairs through appointment of a Political Resident. This arrangement continued till 1952 when the Joint Secretary Kashmir Affairs was entrusted with the additional charge of the post of Resident of Northern Areas.
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