Sectarianism continues to be a tough problem in Gilgit-Baltistan, a region found in northern Pakistan, producing peace a distant dream for the area inhabitants. In spite of a interval of relative tranquil, the area is now the moment again dealing with intensive sectarian clashes.
Demographically, the approximated populace of 1.5 million in the area is composed of four distinct denominations of Islam, particularly Shiite (39 for each cent), Sunni (27 for each cent), Ismaili (18 for every cent), and Noorbakshi (16 for each cent). It offers a multitude of ethnic and linguistic teams, numbering no significantly less than 20-4.
Religiously motivated violence has emerged as a rather the latest phenomenon in Gilgit-Baltistan. This prevalence can be attributed to a mix of elements, specifically demographic transformations, and improved publicity to religious extremism widespread in mainland Pakistan. It is critical to recognize that Gilgit-Baltistan has not remained unaffected by sizeable events this sort of as the Islamic revolution in Iran in 1979, the policy of Islamization pursued beneath Common Zia-ul-Haq’s leadership in Pakistan, and the Afghan jihad for the duration of the eighties. These historic occurrences have experienced a lasting impact on the spiritual landscape of Gilgit-Baltistan.
Notably, in the mountainous area, Gilgit Baltistan, traditionally, the emphasis placed on ethnic and tribal identities along with longstanding social connections outweighed the importance connected to sectarian affiliations.
Before the aforementioned countrywide and worldwide geopolitical developments, the people today of the region coexisted harmoniously. My father usually recounted tales of fraternity amongst the Shia and Sunni populations in the place. Exclusively, Shia mothers in Gilgit’s town place utilized to generously on the lookout following the Sunni little ones and vice versa. However, this the moment peaceful metropolis has now turn out to be a breeding ground for sectarian conflicts.
Chronological examine on the sectarian violence in the Gilgit Baltistan illustrates that in 1975, the very first incident of sectarian violence took spot in Gilgit city. For the duration of a Shia Muharram procession, photographs were fired at the individuals from a Sunni mosque. This led to the arrest of a Sunni spiritual leader, which in flip sparked riots in Sunni locations situated in the Indus valley, south of Gilgit, as effectively as in the nearby valleys of Gor, Darel, and Tangir. The Sunnis from these regions threatened to start an assault on Gilgit. Later on, in 1983, a sectarian clash occurred owing to a disagreement about the sighting of the moon. This disagreement pertained to the timing of the close of Ramadan, a thirty day period-prolonged fasting period, and the commencement of Eid festivities.
In 1988, a spiritual militia referred to as mujahedeen, comprising of a large selection of fighters (approximated to be around eighty thousand by some accounts), invaded Gilgit. This invasion resulted in a tragic incident in which a lot more than 7 hundred customers of the Shia local community were brutally killed and numerous Shia villages ended up destroyed by fireplace. Shia local community of the area try to remember these killings as ‘Jalalabad Massacre’.
Quick ahead to the next 10 years of 21st century, on February 28, 2012, a tragic incident occurred on the Karakoram Freeway in the Kohistan district where eighteen Shia pilgrims were ruthlessly and publicly murdered while on their journey again from Iran. Further more, on 3 April 2012 yet another attack left 20 killed in Chilas.
Subsequent the sectarian-centered bloodshed campaign in 2012, the location savored a decade of relative tranquility, with only minor confrontations happening mainly on a verbal stage. Even so, starting up in late August 2023, the area was engulfed in sectarian tensions immediately after a Shia cleric created derogatory remarks about the Sahaba Karam (Companions of the Prophet Muhammad PBUH) during a Muharam procession in Skardu Baltistan. Given that then, just about every passing day has been marked by ongoing protests in Gilgit Baltistan. As a outcome, the neighborhood government manufactured a formal ask for to deploy the army and paramilitary forces in order to safeguard the main city areas of Gilgit Baltistan. The long lasting and immediate results on the socio-financial sphere of Gilgit Baltistan are obvious.
De-tourism tops the listing of negative repercussions resulting from sectarian clashes. Gilgit Baltistan, identified as a prime location for both of those domestic and international visitors, has endured from the ongoing tensions and hostile attitudes between various sects. As a consequence, holidaymakers are unwilling to pay a visit to the region, leading to vacant motels even throughout the peak tourism months of August and September. Consequently, the tourism sector is seriously impacted by sectarianism, posing fantastic issues.
In addition to tourism, the IT sector has set up a powerful existence in the region. Each boys and ladies are engaged in freelancing to earn money, which encourages them to stay in the region as a substitute of traveling to mainland Pakistan. Even so, the wave of sectarian tensions has negatively influenced freelancers, as the world wide web service has been disrupted in the course of the location.
And finally, in the previous 10 years, there was progress in bridging the divide in between Shia and Sunni communities at a societal degree. Nonetheless, it seems that this gap is now widening at the time again. Consequently, it is achievable for the sociopsychology of folks to be affected by inner thoughts of hatred, a perception of otherness, and enmity.
[Passu Cones, Gilgit Baltistan. Photo by Mobeen Saeed, via Wikimedia Commons]
Deedar Karim belongs to Hunza, Gilgit Baltistan. He is at present operating as a Exploration Affiliate at the South Asia Situations. The sights and views expressed in this short article are those of the creator.
