Pakistan angers India with move to upgrade Kashmir’s status

Prime Minister Imran Khan’s decision would apply to Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan’s only land link to China, giving it provisional provincial status

Meanwhile, top militant commander Saifullah Mir of the Hizbul Mujahideen was killed by security forces in Indian-administered Kashmir on Sunday

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An Indian soldier pictured on patrol near the Line of Control ceasefire line dividing Kashmir between India and Pakistan. Photo: Reuters

Reutersin Islamabad

Published: 9:34am, 2 Nov 2020Updated: 9:48pm, 2 Nov 2020

Pakistan will give provisional provincial status to part of Kashmir, Prime Minister Imran Khan said on Sunday – drawing condemnation from India, which has long objected to any such changes by Islamabad.

Khan’s proposal would apply to Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan’s only land link to China, in the northern part of the larger Kashmir region. Both New Delhi and Islamabad have claimed all of Kashmir since gaining independence 73 years ago, and have fought two wars over the territory.

“We have made a decision to grant provisional provincial status to Gilgit-Baltistan, which has long been the demand here,” Khan said in a speech in the city of Gilgit.

Indian Foreign Ministry spokesman Shri Anurag Srivastava said Delhi “firmly rejects the attempt by Pakistan to bring material changes to a part of Indian territory, under its illegal and forcible occupation”.

Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan pictured in February. Photo: Reuters

Last year India angered Pakistan by announcing changes to the status of Kashmir, taking away some of the region’s privileges. Although Pakistani officials made no link between India’s prior move and Khan’s proposals, the Pakistani action is likely to be viewed in both countries as a partial tit-for-tat response.