Ex-Pakistan defence min warns Imran: Altering Gilgit-Baltistan status will harm 'K' agenda

Pakistan's former Defence Minister Engineer Khurram Dastgir Khan wrote a letter to Pakistan's Parliamentary Kashmir Committee on Thursday warning m of severe potential implications that could befall country if it attempted to alter constitutional status of Gilgit Baltistan. "Legitimate alarming concerns have been expressed that subsuming of G-B by Pakistan will destroy case for self-determination of Kashmiri people-- enshrined in UN Security Council resolutions," said Engineer Khurram Dastgir Khan. 

Former Defence Minster ded that Kashmir Committee must be briefed on probable consequences of subsuming G-B as a full province in Pakistan ding that geopolitical consequences against backdrop of India-China standoff also needed to be discussed.

Imran Khan-led government has decided to conduct polls in GB on vember 15 and designate it as Pakistan's 5th province. This move orchestrated by Pakistan's military establishment has come under serious criticism from key opposition leers such as Maryam Nawaz Sharif who has questioned military's right to take such decisions when a 'democratically' elected parliament is in place. 

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Re: MEA Lambasts Pakistan's Attempt To Alter Illegally Occupied Gilgit-Baltistan's Status

MEA slams Pakistan's move

Meanwhile,  Ministry of External Affairs has come down heavily on Pakistan's attempt to alter legal status of Gilgit-Baltistan. dressing media, MEA official spokesperson Anurag Srivastava clarified that any such action by Pakistan h legal basis. Maintaining that GB will continue to remain a part of India, he vised Pakistan t to interfere in country's internal matters. 

MEA spokesperson Anurag Srivastava remarked, "We have seen statements from Pakistani leership and media reports in this regard. Any action by Pakistan to alter status of militarily occupied Gilgit-Baltistan has legal basis whatsoever and is totally void ab initio. Our position has always been clear and consistent. entire territories of Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Lakh have been, are and would remain an integral part of India. Pakistan has locus standi to comment on India’s internal matters." 

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