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Pakistan and China move to takeover Gilgit-Baltistan

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Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan is said to use the occasion of Pakistan Day, observed each year on March 23, to make a public announcement that Pakistan occupied territory of Gilgit-Baltistan has been incorporated into its federal system as her fifth provisional province.

Gilgit-Baltistan, formerly named the Northern Areas, was only allowed to have its own assembly in 2009. The Gilgit-Baltistan assembly is controlled by the state of Pakistan from Rawalpindi where the chief of Pakistan army General Qamar Javed Bajwa has his headquarters.

Eminent PoJK historian and political commentator Dr Shabbir Chaudhary who lives in exile in the UK writes in his book titled ‘Legal Status of Jammu and Kashmir’: “everything in …Gilgit- Baltistan is controlled by Islamabad. Even the school curriculum is written by them, and our children are not taught history of Jammu Kashmir.” (p. 148)

Gilgit-Baltistan was part of the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir until November 1, 1947 when Major Alexander William Brown, the former political agent of the Gilgit agency, launched a coup against Maharaja Hari Singh and arrested Governor Brigadier Ghansara Singh. It was major Brown who actually replaced the state flag with the Pakistani flag and announced its accession to Pakistan.

He had no power to take that decision, yet as Indian troops were pushing the Pakistani invading army out of Kashmir in October 1947, Brown acted in desperation in order to deny India the passage to central Asia.

Currently, Gilgit-Baltistan and her dry port of Sost at the Pak-China border right up to the sea port of Gwadar in Balochistan are key to China’s economic expansionist design. The militant insurgency in Balochistan has brought the China-Pakistan-Economic-Corridor (CPEC) to a standstill. A massive military operation allegedly supervised by the Chinese PLA is under way to crush Baloch rebels.

It is in this backdrop that China has been exerting pressure on the Pakistan government to make sure that CPEC is made foolproof in Gilgit-Baltistan. Pakistan’s solution is to make PoGB into its 5th province and take full control of the administrative matters along with intensifying its plunder of our natural resources.

Under the current circumstances granting mining licenses to non-residents in PoGB has become a great cause for concern for locals who have been protesting for months and demand cancellation of any mining licenses issued to aliens.

This hampers the loot of natural resources of Gilgit-Baltistan by Chinese companies, most of which are state owned. By incorporating PoGB into Pakistan’s federal set up it will become possible to impose direct rule from Islamabad and any one could be granted a mining license.

Another aspect of Pakistan’s attempt to incorporate PoGB into Pakistan stem from China’s need to gain access to the clean water from our glaciers. In a book titled ‘Kashmir the Untold Story’ co-authored by Iqbal Chand Malhotra and Maroof Raza they reveal that China’s major rivers Yangtze and Yellow river are polluted hence they cannot be used for the purpose of manufacturing semiconductors.

Semiconductors are used extensively in mobile phones, cars, fighter jets, satellites and even naval ships. Hence whoever will dominate the manufacture of semiconductors in the world market will rule the digital world.

‘Chinese strategists were interested in Shaksgam valley, which is home to over 242 glaciers’. (Malhotra, Raza. p 154). It is therefore important for China to control the waters flowing into PoGB.

By incorporating PoGB, Pakistan will act in clear violation of the UN resolutions that have designated PoGB as disputed territory. This would give the Indian government the right to challenge Pakistan in the International Court of Justice.

Recent decision made by Pakistan to make PoGB her 5th province has generated a new wave of protests and discontent in the occupied region. Political leaders who traditionally side with Pakistan-based political parties such as the Pakistan People’s Party and Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz have also come out in protest warning Islamabad and Rawalpindi alike of grave consequences if such a move is made on March 23.

The question is, can Pakistan afford such an adventure that on one hand becomes a genuine reason for revolt by the locals and on the other hand paint Pakistan as a state that has committed yet another serious violation of the dictates of the United Nations.
The move to take over Gilgit-Baltistan by Pakistan and China may not be a pleasant one after all.

International News

He is a very unorthodox thinker: Gavaskar praises Suryakumar Yadav’s captaincy decisions

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Dubai, Sep 20: India’s cricketing legend Sunil Gavaskar praised T20I skipper Suryakumar Yadav for the decisions he took during the recently concluded Asia Cup 2025 clash against Oman. Suryakumar led India to their third consecutive win in the tournament as the Men in Blue move to the Super Fours stage unbeaten.

In the team’s third and final group stage game against Oman on Friday, Suryakumar decided not to walk out to bat during India’s innings as they opted to bat first. All other 10 players of the playing XI got game time with the bat as the skipper demoted him to No. 11.

Many experts and pundits criticised the move, but Gavaskar believed it to be a sensible decision. Speaking on Sony Sports Network, the former India captain said:

“If he had batted for even one over, he could have hit a few fours and sixes, and that would have been good for him. But the way he batted against Pakistan, maybe he does not need batting practice. He may have thought that Kuldeep Yadav’s batting could come in handy if India lose quick wickets in one of the matches. Perhaps that’s why he may have sent Kuldeep in to bat.”

Calling the 35-year-old Mumbai batter an ‘innovative thinker,’ Gavaskar added: “He is a very unorthodox thinker. We saw in Sri Lanka that he himself bowled and also gave Rinku Singh the ball. He turned the game, which seemed to have slipped away, on its head and won India the match. He is an innovative thinker. Maybe that’s why he did not bat and sent in Kuldeep and Arshdeep Singh.”

Notably, India defeated Oman by 21 runs to make it three wins in a row.

The group stage of the Asia Cup concluded with the Men in Blue’s match against Oman on Friday, with Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, India and Pakistan moving to the Super Fours.

Six games will be played in the second stage of the tournament. Every team will play the other three opponents once, and the sides finishing in the top two of the points table will progress to the summit clash.

India will commence their Super Fours campaign with a match against arch-rivals Pakistan on Saturday, 21 September, followed by games against Bangladesh and Sri Lanka on 24 and 26 September, respectively.

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International News

PM Modi’s 75th Birthday: Leaders, Including Jaishankar, Amit Shah, Donald Trump, Extend Birthday Wishes

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New Delhi: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Wednesday extended birthday greetings to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, praising his leadership and commitment to building a self-reliant India.

“Join the nation in conveying best wishes to Prime Minister @narendramodi ji on his birthday. His transformative leadership and firm resolve to build an Atmanirbhar, Sammridh and #ViksitBharat serve as an inspiration. Wish him good health and many more years in the service of the nation,” Mr. Jaishankar posted on X.

Among those who wished the Prime Minister included US President Donald Trump who through a phone call expressed gratitude for India’s support on ending the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

In a post on his social media account, Truth Social, Trump stated that PM Modi is doing a “tremendous job.” PM Modi also shared details of the call and thanked Trump for his wishes, calling him a “friend”. The Prime Minister also noted that he is “committed to taking the India-US Comprehensive and Global Partnership to new heights.”

“Thank you, my friend, President Trump, for your phone call and warm greetings on my 75th birthday. Like you, I am also fully committed to taking the India-US Comprehensive and Global Partnership to new heights. We support your initiatives towards a peaceful resolution of the Ukraine conflict,” PM wrote in an X post.

The greetings from the US President came on a day when the US Trade Representative, Brendan Lynch, was in the national capital to discuss next steps in bilateral trade negotiations. Lynch had a positive meeting with his counterpart, Ministry of Commerce and Industry Special Secretary Rajesh Agrawal, on Tuesday, with both sides deciding to intensify efforts to achieve an early conclusion of a mutually beneficial Trade Agreement.

Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah also extended greetings to PM Modi on his 75th birthday, calling him a symbol of sacrifice and dedication.

In a post on X, Shah said the Prime Minister remains an inspiration for crores of Indians.

“Symbol of sacrifice and dedication, inspiration for crores of countrymen, heartfelt birthday wishes to Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji on his 75th birthday. Modi ji, who has been working tirelessly, without stopping or tiring, for the welfare of the countrymen for more than five decades in social life, is a living inspiration of ‘Nation First’ for every citizen,” Shah wrote.

President Droupadi Murmu also extended her greetings to PM Modi on the occasion, saying he has “instilled a culture of achieving great goals” in the country through his extraordinary leadership.

“Heartfelt birthday greetings and best wishes to the Prime Minister of India, Shri @narendramodi ji. By exemplifying the pinnacle of hard work through your extraordinary leadership, you have instilled a culture of achieving great goals in the country,” the President posted on X.

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Business

India, Japan can diversify trade basket, open new frontiers with renewed efforts: PM Modi

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Tokyo, Aug 29: Hailing the robust India-Japan economic and trade partnership, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said with renewed efforts, both nations can diversify their trade basket, make it more balanced, and open up new frontiers as well.

In an interview with Japanese newspaper The Yomiuri Shimbun, the Prime Minister said we must aim bigger and remain ambitious.

“The synergies across governments, businesses and people can create scale and speed in our economic partnership. As the world’s leading economies, we have been contributing to each other’s growth, competitiveness and dynamism,” PM Modi told the publication.

Japan has been a trusted partner in India’s infrastructure development across generations. The country has also been a leading source of foreign direct investment (FDI) for India in key sectors, including automobiles, electronics, telecom, chemicals, finance, and pharmaceuticals.

According to PM Modi, the number of Japanese firms in India has grown steadily to around 1,500, while more than 400 Indian companies operate in Japan.

“Clearly, this is only the beginning — the real potential is much higher,” he noted.

“We maintain important trade relations, but it has not yet reached the levels envisaged under our CEPA (Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement)… The 20th century saw Japan emerge as a major partner in India’s infrastructure development. I am confident that the 21st century will see Japan as a major partner in India’s innovation, manufacturing, and global value chains,” the Prime Minister emphasised.

On semiconductors, PM Modi told the publication that India’s semiconductor sector is on the cusp of transformation.

“We have put in place a comprehensive regulatory and policy framework, backed by incentives, to build a strong semiconductor and display ecosystem. Already, six semiconductor units are taking root in India, with four more on the way. By the end of this very year, ‘Made in India’ chips will be in the market, a clear demonstration of India’s design and manufacturing capabilities,” the Prime Minister said.

Japanese companies, with their technological strengths and global leadership, can play a pivotal role in this journey, he said, adding that a strong beginning has already been made.

“By combining India’s scale and capabilities with Japan’s advanced technologies, we can build a resilient and trusted semiconductor value chain,” PM Modi stressed, adding that this collaboration will support the technological ambitions of both our countries and enhance global supply chain security.

“I see semiconductor cooperation emerging as a major pillar of the India–Japan partnership. After all, in this digital century, chips are not just about computers, they are about competitiveness, credibility and confidence in the future,” he mentioned.

Some Japanese companies are positioning their production bases in India as hubs for third-country markets such as Africa.

According to PM Modi, India has seen multi-faceted reforms which make manufacturing in India easier than ever before.

“We have removed compliance burdens, rolled out incentives and ensured a large skilled workforce for companies to set base in India. Many global companies, including those from Japan, are setting up their production in India not only to cater to our domestic market, but also for the world,” he highlighted in his response.

Japanese automaker Suzuki Motor Corporation this week announced it will invest Rs 70,000 crore in India over the next five to six years. The investment will be used to increase production, introduce new car models, and protect its leadership position in the world’s third-largest automobile market.

“Just a couple of days back, I was at the Suzuki plant in India where we flagged off electric vehicles to be exported to a hundred countries, including Japan,” said PM Modi.

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