Talat as always very objective and good programme about Gilgit and baltistan present staus and future policy.. I slaute to all four participants for being so patriotic …salute to our Gilgit and baltistan brothers..

Free version added.

I hope somebody from these areas can read our views and know clearly that we consider them part of our country without any shred of doubt.
The affiliaiton and sincerity they are showing matches the geographical beauty the areas have been bestowed with from GOD ALMIGHTY.

I infact got a rude awakening and feel inspired by their level of patriotism and sincerity for Pakistan. Such attitudes being shining displays of love and affection for our motherhood are ideally needed In present times of crisis and despair currently engulfing our beloved country.

Lets forget all differences and stand together for what’s our dear and priceless homeland.

LONG LIVE PAKISTAN !!

These people don’t speak for the people of Northern areas. They are stooges of Islamabad who are content with a few thousand rupees salary and a pajero jeep with a pakistani flag. These so-called leaders of northern areas are actually a bunch of ignorant fools who even don’t know how to articulate and push for their own basic rights. I was aghast at the way haji abdol qudus was defending the point of view of the pakistani establishment. it is so ironic that this man could not speak for his own people and rather happily choose to defend a system that has been oppressing his people for so long.

Now let me say few things as to why the situation in n/areas is different as from the way scenario depicted by these people.
Well. The social contract that gave birth to Pakistan is crumbling, the founding vision and values of people like quaid azam never got hold in the country. This has now resulted in a progressive decay of pakistani state. Now the poeple of northern areas particularly the younger generation has realised that pakistani state has become corrupt to the core. now pakistani state is not interested to dispense justice, even to its own people [baluchis, sindhis, pathans and even punjabis], then how come we can expect good results in northern areas. pakistani establishment simply want to perpetuate a status-quo in northern areas that actually benefits the powers taht be…

if any of you are interested to investiage these views in more detail i would suggest you to read International Crisis Group’s report on Northern Areas. By the way the so called cosmetic reforms introduced by musharraf were prompted by the alarming conclusions of this report in which it was suggested that political frustration was growing in northern areas.

finally, i would however welcome and appalud talat hussein for attempting to bring into national foucs some of the simmering questions faced by us in northern pakistan, and i hope that pakistani media would follow his lead.

@ali al-Hakim

Could you please post the link of the ICG report you mentioned…

@Londonistan
here is the link for the ICG report on n/areas.
http://www.crisisgroup.org/home/index.cfm?id=4748

I appreciate Talat Hussain’s effort to highlihgt the plight of the deprived two million people of Gilgit - Baltistan. However, he should have been cautious while choosing participants of the forum. While it was important to bring government figures, independent journalists, representatives of nationalist organizations and other common citizens should also have been invited to pariticipate in the discussion.

I completely agree with the candid views expressed by Ali Al - Hakim. The ICG report, the recent report of Emma Nicholosn and the consequent resolution of the Eurpean Parliament, blasting the government for its criminal neglect of the region, can provide objective and rational study on the matter - if people are really interested.

I don’t buy the idea of ‘patriotism’ that the ‘advisors’ of the so-called legislative assembly have shown. It might reflect the personal compulsion and/or emotions of the individuals, it is not a mirror of our society’s collective thought. For being patriots we, first, need to be part of the country. People living in constituion-less regions (Sar-Zameen-e-Bay- Aayeen - as the journalist of Gilgit - Baltistan term the region) and ‘disputed’ territories, to quote President Musharraf, must not be expected to show patriotism. And if some find the guts and wisdom to show it, there must be something more going on, than sheer expression of emotions.

The youth of Gilgit - Baltistan, where ever you meet them, have strong feelings against the establishment and the government. Nowadays, there are groups that demand separation from Pakistan.

You can’t keep the people out of the political mainstream from six decades and expect them to be ‘loyal’ to the ‘ideology’ of Pakistan. If the deputy speaker of the senate threatens to part ways with the state, what keeps the so-called leaders of Gilgit - Baltistan chained???

Once again I appreciate Talat Hussain and Aaj TV for being our voice. But if they really care for us (the people of Gilgit - Baltistan), the voice that goes out, shall belong to us.

Regards

Noor Muhammad