The political situation in Pakistan-occupied Gilgit Baltistan (PoGB) is worsening as Pakistan invites American and Central Asian companies to participate in resource extraction in the region. Kazakhstan and Indonesia have shown interest in investing in gold and copper mining in Gilgit Baltistan. Local activists believe that the area’s strategic location and rare earth elements contribute to instability, with the Pakistani military seeking to exploit resources without compensating locals.
Senge Sering, a native of Pakistan-occupied-Gilgit-Baltistan, highlighted the exploitation of resources by the Pakistani military without revenue sharing. He emphasized that Gilgit Baltistan’s geographical location is crucial for global economies aiming to diversify rare earth supply chains. The region, known for its abundance of rare earth elements, is being developed by Pakistan with China’s support to become a rare-earth hub at the crossroads of Asia, the Middle East, and Europe.
Sering urged the people of Gilgit Baltistan to unite against Pakistani colonial rule, emphasizing the importance of preserving their political and constitutional rights. He called for solidarity to resist exploitation and abuse of natural resources. Recent reports indicated a fatal incident in the Tangir valley of Diamer in PoGB involving an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) explosion, highlighting ongoing security challenges in the region.
