Northern Areas, Pakistan

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 Shown in green is the Kashmiri region under Pakistani control. The dark-brown region represents Indian-controlled Jammu and Kashmir while the Aksai Chin is under Chinese occupation
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Shown in green is the Kashmiri region under Pakistani control. The dark-brown region represents Indian-controlled Jammu and Kashmir while the Aksai Chin is under Chinese occupation
Reflection of Diran peak (left, 7,257m) and Rakaposhi (right, 7,788m, peak not visible) as viewed from Tagafari base camp, Northern Areas of Pakistan.
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Reflection of Diran peak (left, 7,257m) and Rakaposhi (right, 7,788m, peak not visible) as viewed from Tagafari base camp, Northern Areas of Pakistan.

The Northern Areas, or Gilgit-Baltistan, or Balawaristan is the northernmost region of Pakistan, with a population of approximately 1.1 million. The entire area including Gilgit and Baltistan was known as the Gilgit Agency till October, 1947. India does not recognize the Northern Areas as belonging to Pakistan and calls the region encompassing Azad Kashmir and the Northern Areas "Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK)".

Contents

Geography

Borders

To the north is the Wakhan corridor of Afghanistan, a narrow strip of land that separates Pakistan from Tajikistan. To the northeast is the Xinjiang territory of China. To the southeast is Jammu and Kashmir, a disputed territory controlled by India. To the south is Azad Kashmir and to the west and southwest lies the North-West Frontier Province.

Area

The Northern Areas collectively comprise a territory of 27,991 mi² (72,496 km²).

Mountains

The Northern Areas have some of the worlds highest mountain ranges — the main ranges are the Karakoram and the western Himalayas. The Pamir mountains are to the north, and the Hindu Kush lies to the west.

Subdivisions

The Northern Areas comprise the two districts of Baltistan and the three districts of Gilgit (where the capital, the city of Gilgit, is located).

History

Stop! The neutrality of this section is disputed.

The region was under local rulers for many centuries. The rulers of Hunza were called Mirs, and those of Gilgit were called Raas. Some parts of the region were invaded by Maharajas of Kashmir and they governed the area for many years, which led to the common belief that it is a part of Kashmir. But the people of Gilgit-Baltistan regard themselves as being distinct from Kashmiris and many want to become the fifth province of Pakistan. And they oppose being included in Kashmir. Their opinion is that invasion of Mahrajas doesn't mean that this is a part of Kashmir, just like British invasion over the India in 19th century does not mean that India is a part of Britain. The region's lack of representation in the parliament of Pakistan has placed it outside the mainstream politics of the country, which has become a major cause of frustration to the inhabitants of Gilgit-Baltistan.

Unlike the area that Pakistan calls "Azad Kashmir," the Northern Areas are incorporated into Pakistan. A small part of Northern Areas was ceded to China by Pakistan in 1963 with the proviso that the settlement was subject to the final solution of the Kashmir dispute. India does not recognize the Northern Areas as belonging to Pakistan and calls the region encompassing Azad Kashmir and the Northern Areas "Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK)".

Demographics

With many isolated valleys separated by some of the world's highest mountains, the people of the region consist of many different groups, being linguistically, ethnically, religiously, and racially diverse.

Languages and ethnic groups

Brushaski, an isolated language, is spoken in Hunza, Nagir, Yasin (where Khowar is also spoken), some parts of Gilgit, and some villages of Punyal. Shina language with different accents or in different dialacts is the Language of over 40% of total population, spoken mainly in Gilgit, throughout Diamer, and some parts of Ghizr. Balti with a similar accent, is spoken by the entire population of Baltistan except some villages. There are also some other languages spoken in the area -- Wakhi is spoken in upper Hunza and some villages in Ghizr, while Khowar is the major language of Ghizr. Many of these languages differ from each other. Urdu is the Lingua franca of the Area. Urdu is understood by almost all men, and some literate women. There is another wonderful language that is unique in many aspects, called Domaaki. This language is spoken by the musician clans of the region. It is worthy to note that there were specific tribes that were responsible for playing music. Now with the advancement in technology, and the higher degree of awareness, young Hunzais, irrespective of their tribe are indulging in playing muscial instruments, at the professinoal level. Lastly, small pockets of Pashtuns and Afghans refugees can also be found along the border with the North West Frontier Province and Afghanistan.

Population

The population is estimated to be about 1.1 million.

Origins

The southern route of the ancient Silk road passes through the area, travelled by merchants from many far-off places. Some may have stopped here and inter-married with the locals. It had long been speculated that the relatively fair-skinned and, in places, light-haired people of the area were descendants of the Greeks who, beginning with the soldiers of Alexander the Great, and continuing in the Greco-Buddhist period, settled in the region (see Greco-Bactrian and Indo-Greek). However, recent DNA analyses have failed to find any evidence of Greek ancestry. It is now thought that much of the population is descended from the Tocharian-speaking Yuezhi people of the Tarim basin, who came to rule ancient India during the Kushan era.

Prominent people of the area

See also

External links


Subdivisions of Pakistan Flag of Pakistan
Balochistan | North-West Frontier Province | Punjab | Sindh
Islamabad Capital Territory | Federally Administered Tribal Areas | Azad Kashmir | Northern Areas
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