CISS Islamabad organized an in-house workshop titled “Pakistan’s Northern Frontier: Geostrategic Significance of Gilgit-Baltistan.†The in-house workshop highlighted the strategic significance of Gilgit-Baltistan, mainly focusing on the region’s geostrategic and geoeconomic potential. While discussing various federal government efforts, the speakers pointed out the importance of constitutional steps, i.e., the Self-governance Order 2009 and provisional provincial status via the Government of Gilgit-Baltistan Order 2018, as positive signs towards granting constitutional rights to GB. In this regard, participants emphasized the urgent need to address GB’s constitutional status according to the aspirations of the region’s people. The workshop also examined security challenges facing the region, especially the 5th generation warfare, and provided viable policy options for improving the situation and optimizing economic and strategic gains in GB.
Ali Sarwar Naqvi is Executive Director at the Center for International Strategic Studies (CISS), Islamabad.
