It appears that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s threat to Pakistan of exposing its atrocities on the people of Balochistan and Gilgit-Baltistan in PoK has further emboldened the oppressed peoples of the two regions.
While Balochi nationalists have already praised the PM and thanked him for his concern for their rights, the people of Gilgit-Baltistan are already on the ground protesting against Pakistani establishment and control over the PoK.
According to reports, UK-based Jammu and Kashmir National Independence Alliance (JKNIA) held a demonstration outside the Pakistani High Commission in London against the human rights violations done by Pakistani security forces in the region.
Through the protest, the demonstrators urged the international community to put pressure on Pakistani establishment and demanded fundamental rights for Kashmiris in Pakistan and Gilgit-Baltistan.
Screen grab of protestors in Gilgit-Baltistan raising anti-Pakistan slogans during a rally on August 13.
Over the last few days, Pakistan arrested hundreds of young men in the PoK for demanding fundamental rights and objecting to the construction of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) which passes through the region on the grounds that the locals were being ignored when it came to jobs.
At a rally held in the region a few days ago, hundreds of protestors demanded the release of Baba Jan, a leader arrested by Pakistani authorities for demanding rights for people in PoK.
The protestors in London raised anti-Pakistan slogans and accused Islamabad of cordoning off the entire Gilgit-Baltistan region and PoK.
The spokesperson for the Kashmir National Party, Shabir Chaudhry, pointed out that Pakistan idolizes terrorists like Burhan Wani but calls non-violent protestors such as Arif Shahid terrorists.
Chaudhary said that Shahid was killed by the Pakistani authorities in 2013 for raising his voice against injustice.