# The High Asia Media

> A Window to High and Central Asia


## Posts

- [From Trophy Hunting to Mining](https://thehighasia.com/from-trophy-hunting-to-mining/): Can Gilgit-Baltistan’s new PPP government build Pakistan’s next global success story? by Ghulam Amin-Beg Gilgit-Baltistan occupies a unique position within Pakistan—a constitutional ambiguity, ecological fragility, and cultural vibrancy. Yet its resource governance predates modern statecraft. The region’s valleys were already shaped and governed by deeply-rooted customary institutions. The indigenous frameworks regulated the use of land, forests, water, pastures, and mountain resources through locally evolved rules and collective responsibilities. Under this system, communities and tribes collectively stewarded their territories, overseeing everything from riverbeds to mountain tops. The result was a resilient equilibrium that not only met immediate needs but also guaranteed
- [Seats secured, mandate rejected: the G-B power paradox](https://thehighasia.com/seats-secured-mandate-rejected-the-g-b-power-paradox/): eople of Gilgit-Baltistan know this post-election ritual all too well. The electioneering clamor subsides, the slogans are shelved and the “independent” candidate --yesterday an embodiment of principled detachment, today becomes the most courted citizen in the region.
- [داردستان: افسانہ یا حقیقت (حصہ دوئم)](https://thehighasia.com/dardistan-myth-and-reality-%d8%af%d8%a7%d8%b1%d8%af%d8%b3%d8%aa%d8%a7%d9%86-%d8%a7%d9%81%d8%b3%d8%a7%d9%86%db%81-%db%8c%d8%a7-%d8%ad%d9%82%db%8c%d9%82%d8%aa/): عمران خان آزاد (گمنام کوہستانی) محقق اور عام لکھاری میں فرق ہوتا ہے ۔لیکن ہمارے ہاں ان دونوں کو ایک ہی سمجھا جاتا ہے۔ عام لکھاری تحقیق نہیں کرتے ۔بس جو کچھ سنا، پڑھا اسے من و عن نقل کرکے لکھتے ہیں۔کسی قوم یا علاقے میں رہنے والا عام فرد، مولوی، ادیب، شاعر ،صحافی یا باہر سے آنے والا سیاح محقق نہیں ہوتے لکھاری ہوتے ہیں۔ محقق سنی سنائی باتوں پر یقین نہیں کرتاہے۔ وہ مروجہ اصولوں کے مطابق تحقیق کرکے حقائق جاننے کی کوشش کرتا ہے۔ محقق کسی بھی قوم کے ماضی کے بارے میں جاننے کے لیے ان
- [Gilgit-Baltistan Polls: Now Comes The Real Test](https://thehighasia.com/gilgit-baltistan-polls-now-comes-the-real-test/): by Fazal Ali Saadi The Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly elections held on June 7, 2026, were largely peaceful, barring isolated violence and complaints of irregularities in Astore and Diamer Districts where in some polling stations repolling has been ordered by the election commission. Now the real political maneuvering begins. Parties scramble to form the next government. But the true test lies ahead. In the coming days, the shape of the incoming government will decide not just who holds power, but whether they can deliver stable governance and keep their promises to the electorate. According to the Chief Election Commissioner, overall turnout was
- [داردستا ن ۔۔ بلند گھاٹیوں کے لوگ (حصہ اول)](https://thehighasia.com/%d8%af%d8%a7%d8%b1%d8%af%d8%b3%d8%aa%d8%a7%d9%86-%db%94%db%94-%d8%a8%d9%84%d9%86%d8%af-%da%af%da%be%d8%a7%d9%b9%db%8c%d9%88%da%ba-%da%a9%db%92-%d9%84%d9%88%da%af/): (تحریر: عمران آزاد ( گمنام کوہستان تاریخ فاتح لکھتے ہیں۔ شکست کے صورت میں فاتح نہ صرف مفتوح کے گھر پر قابض ہوجاتے ہیں بلکہ وہ مفتوح کے مذہب، تاریخ، زبان اور ثقافت پر بھی قابض ہوجاتے ہیں۔ فاتح مالک اور مفتوح غلام ہوتے ہیں اس لئے وہ خود کو اعلی اور مفتوح کو کمتر قرار دیتے ہیں۔ اپنی برتری ثابت کرنے کے لیے وہ مفتوح کو حقارت سے پکارتے ہیں۔ ان کے ماضی کو مٹانے کی پوری کوشش کرتے ہیں۔ مفتوح کی زبان، مذہب اور ثقافت کا مذاق اڑا کر، ان سے الٹی سیدھی کہانیاں منسوب کرکے انہیں غیر
- [Diamer Division: A Landscape of Neglect and Backwardness](https://thehighasia.com/diamer-division-a-landscape-of-neglect-and-backwardness/): by F.Ali & Ghulamuddin Diamer Division comprises Astore and Diamer districts, the most neglected and impoverished region in Gilgit-Baltistan. Poverty rates exceed 60–70% in the rural sub-districts of Darel and Tangir, while Astore is marginally better off. Literacy remains critically low: approximately 40–50% for males but only 20–30% for females — among the lowest in Gilgit-Baltistan due to restricted access and deep-rooted cultural constraints. Maternal and infant mortality rates are high, as tertiary healthcare is scarce. The valleys of Tangir and Darel are particularly isolated, with frequent road closures exacerbated by the vulnerability of the Karakoram Highway. Access to business
- [Gilgit Division-- A Powder Keg of Identities and Power](https://thehighasia.com/gilgit-division-a-powder-keg-of-identities-and-power/): by F.Ali & Ghulamuddin Comprising the four districts of Gilgit, Ghizer, Hunza, and Nagar, the Gilgit Division is far more than an administrative entity. It is the region’s volatile nerve centre and seat of power where sectarian loyalties, ethnic identities, and political grievances converge. Every decision taken here sends shockwaves through the entire Gilgit-Baltistan. Against this backdrop of fragile equilibrium, the current electoral battlefield reveals a fractured landscape: the Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians (PPPP) has deployed 23 candidates, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) 22, and the PTI-backed independents 19. Yet the real chess moves happen in the shadows—most notably a
- [No More Lofty Promises: Gilgit-Baltistan Aspires to Real Power](https://thehighasia.com/no-more-lofty-promises-gilgit-baltistan-aspires-to-real-power/): by F.Ali & Ghulamuddin With electioneering concluding tonight after reaching its climax, Gilgit-Baltistan stands at a crossroads. The assembly elections are shaping up to be the region’s most consequential to date due to profound shifts in its electoral fabric since the 2020 polls. The most telling metric is the addition of 188,715 new voters, swelling the total electorate to 963,034 registered citizens (506,097 men and 456,937 women). This sharp expansion reflects an intensified political consciousness and suggests that mobilising first-time and previously disengaged voters could prove decisive. As polling day approaches, the political temperature across Gilgit-Baltistan has risen in direct
- [Ballots Marked, Voices Ignored – The Gilgit-Baltistan Paradox](https://thehighasia.com/ballots-marked-voices-ignored-the-gilgit-baltistan-paradox/): by Fazal Ali Saadi As the Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly elections approaches, the familiar theatrics of Pakistan’s ruling parties have descended on the region once again. What is normally a tranquil, the mountainous territory has been transformed into yet another arena for the cynical power struggle of the Pakistani political parties. Streets and bazaars are draped in party flags, while candidates compete in making the tallest promises of roads, jobs, subsidies, development schemes, and the ever-vague “access to power.” Voters, long accustomed to this ritual, are being courted as if the only problem is a lack of government generosity, not a lack
- [Baba Jan’s disqualification shakes Gilgit-Baltistan](https://thehighasia.com/baba-jans-disqualification-shakes-gilgit-baltistan/): Bureau Report Gilgit, May 8: In a ruling that has sent shockwaves through Gilgit-Baltistan’s political landscape, the Election Appellate Tribunal has disqualified Baba Jan, president of the left-wing Awami Workers Party (AWPGB) and a high-profile candidate from Hunza, from contesting the 2026 general elections for the GB Assembly. Judge Raja Shakeel Ahmed of the Election Appellate Tribunal also struck down the nominations of former Chief Executive Fida Muhammad Nashad and Abdul Qayum, triggering outrage that has since spilled violently across social media. The tribunal’s ruling is being widely perceived as the latest chapter in a troubling pattern of political victimisation.
- [Freedom of expression, rule of law under stress: HRCP report](https://thehighasia.com/freedom-of-expression-rule-of-law-under-stress/): The ‘Status of Human Rights in Pakistan in 2025’, documents a year marked by a severe contraction of civic space, the erosion of judicial independence, and deepening insecurity. The timing could not have been more damning.
- [Press freedom under threat, journalists call for real action](https://thehighasia.com/press-freedom-under-threat-journalists-call-for-real-action/): Bureau Report GILGIT / SKARDU: On World Press Freedom Day, official ceremonies and messages from the caretaker government officials reaffirmed their commitment to freedom of expression. But on the ground, journalists and press freedom advocates say the reality is starkly different calling for urgent action to reverse deepening press freedom crisis. In a message, the Caretaker Information Minister Ghulam Abbas stated that a free, impartial, and responsible media serves as the backbone of any democratic society. He declared, “Without press freedom, the concept of democracy remains incomplete.” He added that this day reminds us of the sacrifices made by journalists
- [Last echoes of Pamirs: ancient languages facing extinction](https://thehighasia.com/last-echoes-of-pamirs-ancient-languages-facing-extinction/): There are various dialects of almost every language, for instance, Bajuwi, Barwazi, and Shahdara of Shughni, and Khufi dialect of Rushani,
- [Why Pakistan brokered US-Iran ceasefire](https://thehighasia.com/why-pakistan-brokered-us-iran-ceasefire/): Pakistan has demonstrated impressive diplomatic skill and strategic resolve in its mediation efforts. However, whether it can truly pull the US and Iran out of the quagmire of war remains to be seen. The two-week ceasefire window is both a valuable opportunity and potentially just the calm before the storm.
- [ہنزہ میں دریا کنارے پلیسر گولڈ مائننگ اور اس کےماحولیاتی و سماجی اثرات](https://thehighasia.com/%db%81%d9%86%d8%b2%db%81-%d9%85%db%8c%da%ba-%d8%af%d8%b1%db%8c%d8%a7-%da%a9%d9%86%d8%a7%d8%b1%db%92-%d9%be%d9%84%db%8c%d8%b3%d8%b1-%da%af%d9%88%d9%84%da%88-%d9%85%d8%a7%d8%a6%d9%86%d9%86%da%af-%d8%a7/): اگر ابھی سے کوئی موثر اقدام نہ کیا گیا تو آنے والے سالوں میں دریائے ہنزہ کے کنارے بسنے والی پوری آبادیاں اپنی زمینوں اور گھروں سے بے گھر ہو جائیں گی، اور یہ خوبصورت وادی ایک ماحولیاتی تباہی اور سماجی ناانصافی کی مثال بن کر رہ جائے گی۔
- [Beyond Borders: How Bugti Folk Music is Reclaiming Cultural Space](https://thehighasia.com/beyond-borders-how-bugti-folk-music-is-reclaiming-cultural-space/): Abdul Ghaffar Bugti The melodies of Bugti folk singers have begun to travel far beyond the rugged landscapes of Dera Bugti, quietly crossing borders, dissolving cultural divides, and finding resonance in distant audiences. What was once confined to tribal gatherings and desert evenings is now emerging as a voice of connection — carrying themes of love, longing and harmony across regions. For decades, however, the cultural expressions of Balochistan remained largely unheard. While the region was frequently discussed in terms of conflict and security, its artistic voices received little institutional support. In this silence, it was communities themselves — particularly
- [New NCSW Chair: Milestone and Mandate for Representation](https://thehighasia.com/new-ncsw-chair-milestone-and-mandate-for-representation/): Ms Lehri’s tenure as interim chairperson, therefore, stands as both a milestone and a mandate. It is a milestone because it demonstrates that progress is possible when merit and representation converge. It is a mandate because it underscores that such moments must become the norm, not the exception. 
- [Khamenei’s assassination and the Gilgit–Skardu tragedy](https://thehighasia.com/khameneis-assassination-and-the-gilgit-skardu-tragedy/): Unless deeper structural issues are addressed through inclusive governance, stronger civic engagement with youth and responsible leadership across institutions, similar flashpoints will remain possible.
- [Imperialist Powers Now in Asia](https://thehighasia.com/imperialist-powers-now-in-asia/): Abdul Ghaffar Bugti Western and Southern Asia have once again emerged as the newest battleground for imperialist powers. Iran, Afghanistan, India, and Pakistan now stand at the epicenter of resource wars and regime-change designs, reflecting a broader struggle over markets, minerals, and geopolitical dominance. The recent US-Israel strikes of February 28–29, 2026 reportedly killed Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, along with members of his family, and left more than 200 dead and 700 wounded across Tehran, Isfahan, and other strategic sites. The attacks targeted oil infrastructure and defense systems, aiming to disrupt supply chains and trigger price volatility through dollar-based
- [NDMA warns of looming GLOF threat, questions readiness](https://thehighasia.com/ndma-warns-of-looming-glof-threat-questions-readiness/): News Desk ISLAMABAD, Feb 26: The disaster management body of Pakistan has sounded an alarm bell over a heightened risk of Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs) in next six months in the mountainous regions. In an advisory, the National Emergency Operation Centre of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) cautioned that rising temperatures, erratic weather patterns and the possibility of early heatwaves could trigger dangerous flooding across Gilgit-Baltistan and northern regions of Pakistan. According to the Centre, projected temperature increases between March and June are expected to accelerate snow and glacier melt in Gilgit-Baltistan and upper parts of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. Rapid
- [Faith, Fear, and the Failure of Accountability](https://thehighasia.com/faith-fear-and-the-failure-of-accountability/): Abdul Ghaffar Bugti Pakistan’s Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) was introduced as a safeguard against cybercrime. Over time, however, it has increasingly appeared less as a shield against digital threats and more as a sword against dissent. Those exposing corruption, injustice, or manipulation—journalists, lawyers, activists, and even grieving families—often find themselves facing summons, surveillance, and arrest. At the same time, an alarming pattern has emerged in blasphemy-related cases. Reports presented before the National Commission on Human Rights indicate that, up to mid-2024, more than 700 young Pakistanis—engineers, teachers, labourers, and students from across provinces—are imprisoned on blasphemy charges. In numerous cases, families allege
- [Mother’s Milk -- A Natural Nutrition for Infants](https://thehighasia.com/mothers-milk-a-natural-nutrition-for-infants/): by Sadia Gulzar Breastfeeding is the lifeline of a child’s survival, growth, and emotional well-being. From the first hour after birth through the first two years and beyond, a mother’s milk provides essential nutrition, protection from disease, and deep psychological bonding to an infant. World health bodies and paediatricians stress on the importance of breastfeeding. According to the World Health Organization, “there is no substitute for breast milk”. It recommends initiating breastfeeding within the first hour after birth and continuing it exclusively for six months, followed by complementary feeding alongside breastfeeding up to two years or longer. This guidance reflects
- [The Capital Without Its Workers](https://thehighasia.com/the-capital-without-its-workers/): Abdul Ghaffar Bugti From Muslim Colony to Shakarparian, Islamabad’s bulldozers have moved with ruthless efficiency—flattening homes, uprooting trees, and erasing World War I memorials and a Mughal-era mosque in a single sweep—revealing a city where people, nature, and history are all deemed expendable before the altar of capital-led development. Islamabad is being redesigned as an elite enclave where infrastructure serves capital rather than citizens—and where “development” functions as a legal instrument to erase the working class, nature, and history. The city is increasingly stitched together by highways connecting elite zones: from the airport to Blue Area, the Red Zone to
- [Chipursan quake: manufactured resilience, real abandonment](https://thehighasia.com/chipursan-quake-manufactured-resilience-real-abandonment/): by Sultan Ahmed As the winter chill settles over the high-mountains of the Pamirian Knot, a quiet yet devastating humanitarian crisis is unfolding in the Hunza District’s Chipursan Valley, bordering the Wakhan Corridor. Since October 2025, the strategically important Valley has been haunted by unexplained subterranean tremors, culminating in a powerful earthquake on January 19, 2026 and a series of aftershocks. Hundreds of families have since been forced out of their ancestral homes. By day, they struggle to tend their herds and salvage the remnants of their lives; by night, they huddle in makeshift tents enduring sub-zero temperatures with little
- [ہنزہ میں قدرتی حادثات: انتظامی ناکامیاں، سیاسی خلاء اور سماجی ڈھانچے کے تناظر میں ایک تنقیدی جائزہ](https://thehighasia.com/%db%81%d9%86%d8%b2%db%81-%d9%85%db%8c%da%ba-%d9%82%d8%af%d8%b1%d8%aa%db%8c-%d8%ad%d8%a7%d8%af%d8%ab%d8%a7%d8%aa-%d8%a7%d9%86%d8%aa%d8%b8%d8%a7%d9%85%db%8c-%d9%86%d8%a7%da%a9%d8%a7%d9%85%db%8c%d8%a7/): تحریر: فرمان بیگ ہنزہ میں یوں تو زمانہ قدیم سے بڑے بڑے قدرتی حادثات وقوع پزیر ہوئے ہیں اور انسانی آبادیوں کو نقصانات پہنچاتے رہے ہیں۔ان حادثات سے نمٹنے اور نقصانات کو کم کرنے کے مقامی نظام موثر انداز میں اپناے گیے ۔ لیکن موجودہ جدید ٹیکنالوجی کے دور میں وسائیل کی بہتات اور درجنوں اداروں کے باوجود اس طرح کے قدرتی آفات سے نمٹنے کا موثر نظام نظرنہیں آتا۔ بالخصوص گزشتہ ایک دہائی کے دوران دو بڑے حادثات یعنی ۲۰۱۰ میں عطاء آباد اور حال ہی میں چیپورسن میں پیش آنے والے المناک حادثات محض قدرتی آفات نہیں ہیں۔
- [کیا بایاں بازو کو پی ٹی آئی کی تحریک کا حصہ بننا چاہیئے؟](https://thehighasia.com/%da%a9%db%8c%d8%a7-%d8%a8%d8%a7%db%8c%d8%a7%da%ba-%d8%a8%d8%a7%d8%b2%d9%88-%da%a9%d9%88-%d9%be%db%81-%d9%b9%db%8c-%d8%a2%d8%a6%db%8c-%da%a9%db%8c-%d8%aa%d8%ad%d8%b1%db%8c%da%a9-%da%a9%d8%a7-%d8%ad/): اصل سوال یہ ہے کہ بایاں بازو موجودہ طاقت کے توازن، عوامی رجحانات اور سیاسی امکانات کے اندر اپنی جگہ کیسے بناتا ہے۔
- [کالم۔ قطرہ قطرہ: معروف شینا شاعر خلیفہ رحمت جان ملنگ کے مزار پر حاضری](https://thehighasia.com/%d9%85%d8%b9%d8%b1%d9%88%d9%81-%d8%b4%db%8c%d9%86%d8%a7-%d8%b4%d8%a7%d8%b9%d8%b1-%d8%ae%d9%84%db%8c%d9%81%db%81-%d8%b1%d8%ad%d9%85%d8%aa-%d8%ac%d8%a7%d9%86-%d9%85%d9%84%d9%86%da%af/): تحریر: اسرارالدین اسرار گلگت بلتستان کی قدیم اور شینا زبان کے اولین صاحب دیوان شاعر خلیفہ رحمت ملنگ جان شینا ادب میں ایک روشن مینار کی حیثیت رکھتی ہے۔ طویل عرصے بعد اپنے بیٹے وجہہ الدین کے ہمراہ اپنے آبائی گاؤں شیر قلعہ میں واقع اپنے دادا کے مزار پر حاضری اور فاتحہ خوانی دراصل صرف ایک خاندانی روایت کی ادائیگی نہیں تھی بلکہ شینا زبان، اس کی تہذیب اور اس کے صوفیانہ ورثے سے ایک روحانی تجدیدِ عہد بھی تھی۔ رحمت جان، جنہوں نے شاعری میں ملنگ کا تخلص اختیار کیا، 1885ء میں شیر قلعہ میں پیدا ہوئے اور
- [سیاسی شعوربمقابلہ نیولبرل ترقی کا شعوراورگلگت۔بلتستان پرنوآبادیاتی قبضہ](https://thehighasia.com/%d8%b3%db%8c%d8%a7%d8%b3%db%8c-%d8%b4%d8%b9%d9%88%d8%b1%d8%a8%d9%85%d9%82%d8%a7%d8%a8%d9%84%db%81-%d9%86%db%8c%d9%88%d9%84%d8%a8%d8%b1%d9%84-%d8%aa%d8%b1%d9%82%db%8c-%da%a9%d8%a7-%d8%b4%d8%b9%d9%88/): تحریر: صفی اللہ بیگ گلگت بلتستان خصوصا ہنزہ میں سیاسی شعور کے موضوع پر سماجی ترقی کے ماہر جناب غلام امین بیگ اورمعروف لکھاری و تجزیہ نگار عامرحسین کےاہم مضامین حال ہی میں ان صفحات پہ شائع ہوئی ہیں ۔ دونوں کے مضامین اس لیے اہمیت کے حامل ہیں کہ امین بیگ صاحب نے ہنزہ میں سیاسی شعور کی ہیت اور موجودہ تشکیل کی تشریح کرتے ہوئے سماجی شعور کو نیولبرل نظریہ کے عین مطابق نہ صرف ایک الگ تصور کے طور پر پیش کیا ہے بلکہ “سیاسی سرمایہ ” قرار دیا ہے ۔ دوسری طرف عامر حسین صاحب نے
- [سماجی شعور سے سیاسی صلاحیت تک ہنزہ کے مستقبل پرایک جدید مارکسی تجزیہ](https://thehighasia.com/%d8%b3%d9%85%d8%a7%d8%ac%db%8c-%d8%b4%d8%b9%d9%88%d8%b1-%d8%b3%db%92-%d8%b3%db%8c%d8%a7%d8%b3%db%8c-%d8%b5%d9%84%d8%a7%d8%ad%db%8c%d8%aa-%d8%aa%da%a9/): تحریر: امین بیگ (مارکسی مکتبِ فکر — رفقا کی تنقیدی رائے کے لیے) ہنزہ کے بارے میں عمومی گفتگو چند طاقتور مگر سادہ بنائے گئے تصورات کے گرد گھومتی ہے، جو تاریخ کو سمجھنے کے بجائے اکثر اسے منجمد کر دیتے ہیں۔ ان تصورات کے پیچھے چھپی حقیقت کو سمجھے بغیر نہ حال کی سیاست کو پڑھا جا سکتا ہے اور نہ مستقبل کا کوئی بامعنی راستہ نکالا جا سکتا ہے۔پہلا تصورہنزہ کو ایک شانگریلا، جنتِ ارضی کے طور پر پیش کرتا ہے—طویل عمر، اجتماعی خوشی، بے فکری، بہادر اور آزاد منش لوگ، ایک ہم آہنگ اور خودمختار سماج۔دوسرا تصورایک
- [سماجی و سیاسی شعور: ایک درست نکتہ، مگر ادھورا تجزیہ](https://thehighasia.com/%d8%b3%d9%85%d8%a7%d8%ac%db%8c-%d9%88-%d8%b3%db%8c%d8%a7%d8%b3%db%8c-%d8%b4%d8%b9%d9%88%d8%b1-%d8%a7%db%8c%da%a9-%d8%af%d8%b1%d8%b3%d8%aa-%d9%86%da%a9%d8%aa%db%81%d8%8c-%d9%85%da%af%d8%b1-%d8%a7/): ہنزہ کے لیے اصل چیلنج محض سماجی اور سیاسی شعور کو جوڑنا نہیں، بلکہ اس شعور کو طبقاتی انصاف، شہری حقوق اور اجتماعی ملکیت کے سوال سے جوڑنا ہے۔
- [Phantoms of Power: Part-III](https://thehighasia.com/phantoms-of-power-iii/): Dissension and contradictions within its leadership mark the local narrative about the independence of Gilgit-Baltistan as subsumed.
- [Indigenous resistance to destructive hydropower projects in Swat](https://thehighasia.com/indigenous-resistance-to-destructive-hydropower-projects-in-swat/): by Zubair Torwali “We are an Indigenous nation.” For most people, this phrase is an abstract claim. For us, the Torwali people of upper Swat, it is a lived reality rooted not in state structures but in land, river, language, and memory. Our identity is inseparable from the mountains we inhabit, the rivers we honour, the pastures we graze, and the ancestral systems we still practice. No historical evidence suggests any community predating us in this region. Our customary governance, environmental knowledge, and linguistic heritage all testify to our ancient presence. Even today, Torwalis living in urban centres like Karachi,
- [ADR an effective means of dispute resolution](https://thehighasia.com/adr-an-effective-means-of-dispute-resolution/): by: Israruddin Israr Pakistan’s judicial system, based on British legal principles, grapples with issues of independence, inefficiency, and eroding public trust. These problems cause systemic dysfunction, backlogs, and rising litigation expenses. Consequently, Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) has emerged as a vital and effective alternative. Across developed and developing legal systems ADR is now acknowledged as a complementary to the traditional litigation and preferable means of resolving disputes. It encompasses mechanisms such as negotiation, mediation, conciliation, and arbitration, which enable rival parties to resolve conflicts outside the traditional court system. By emphasising cooperation, flexibility, confidentiality, party autonomy, and voluntary participation, ADR
- [Anglo-Russian rivalry in Central Asia -- the finale at the Pamirs-II](https://thehighasia.com/anglo-russian-rivalry-in-central-asia-the-finale-at-the-pamirs-ii/): by Dr Zahid Usman The strategic importance of the Pamirs has always drawn the attention of the imperial powers. At the heart of this contest was the rivalry between the British and the Tsarist empires for control of trade routes, resources and balance of power in the region. Their conflict, known as the “Great Game”, reached its climax in the late 19th century. While earlier conquests in Central Asia took place under Russian emperor Alexander II, the incorporation of the Pamirs into Russia occurred later during the reigns of Alexander III and Nicholas II. Afghanistan was within the British sphere
- [Yalda Night: the festival of fire](https://thehighasia.com/yalda-night-the-festival-of-fire/): by Rizwan Karim (This account is based on lived experience and oral narratives I’ve heard. It does not claim research-based or archival authority but reflects vernacular memory and community knowledge.) Shab-i-Yalda (Yalda Night), the celebration of the longest night of the year, is widely observed tonight across Iran, Afghanistan and the Persianised world. In the Gilgit-Baltistan region of Pakistan, a locally rooted version of the winter solstice festival is known as Thumushaling (also pronounced Thumshuling) in and around Gilgit and Mayfung in Baltistan is observed on the night of 20–21 December. In Gilgit-Baltistan, Thumushaling/ Manfung is both seasonal and cosmological
- [Feeding the soil, poisoning health and environment](https://thehighasia.com/feeding-the-soil-poisoning-health-and-environment/): by Sadia Gulzar Fertilisers play vital role in enhancing crop yield. These are used widely around the world to provide crops with the nutrients needed for their efficient growth and producing higher yields. But they also affect biodiversity, human health, water, soil and environment. While fertilizers serve the vital function of replenishing essential nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium in the soil, which are crucial for plant health, their misuse carries significant risks. There are two types of fertilisers: synthetic and organic. Synthetic fertilisers, produced through industrial processes, offer quick nutrient delivery. However, they contribute significantly to soil degradation, water
- [Phantoms of Power in Gilgit-Baltistan: Power and Pandemonium-II](https://thehighasia.com/phantoms-of-power-in-gilgit-baltistan-2/): By: Aziz Ali Dad The process of subjugation in Gilgit-Baltistan entails continuous emaciation of local society on the one side, and increasing intrusion of the administrative arm of the state in the culture, society, and religion in the region on the other. This helps the state to keep the local populace disenfranchised by erasing them from nation state building project and the narrative of state history. A salient feature of Gilgit-Baltistan vis-à-vis its relationship with the polity of Pakistan is that none of the country’s constitutions of 1956, 1962 and 1973 recognised the region as its part. All the reforms
- [Dialogue on water, energy & climate change today](https://thehighasia.com/climate-challenges-and-gaps-in-planning-responses/): News Desk Islamabad, Dec 17: Pakistan faces a set of overlapping pressures across climate, water, and energy systems. Increasingly variable river flows, floods, and energy demands intersect in ways that affect planning, infrastructure performance, and resource management. Recent extreme events have highlighted gaps in both planning and response, showing how institutional assumptions, rigid engineering models, and limited integration of community knowledge can exacerbate vulnerability. Decisions in one sector have consequences across others, making it essential to understand these interdependencies and identify coordinated approaches to infrastructure and governance challenges. Addressing these layered pressures requires a space where evidence, experience, and institutional
- [Phantoms of Power in Gilgit-Baltistan-I](https://thehighasia.com/phantoms-of-power-in-gilgit-baltistan/): By: Aziz Ali Dad The region of Gilgit-Baltistan is characterised by linguistic, sectarian, ethnic, regional and cultural diversity. Historically, it was ruled through micro-states or principalities. With the gradual creeping of Dogras and the advent of the British in the nineteenth century, and rule of Pakistan in the second half of the twentieth century, the regional power loci witnessed emaciation and gradual subjugation of the local populace to exogenous power centres and arrangements. In all the systems during the colonial and post-colonial periods, local people did not have any say. Absence of local voice in the upper echelon of power
- [An illustrated chronicle of the Anglo-Russian contest in Central Asia](https://thehighasia.com/an-illustrated-chronicle-of-the-anglo-russian-contest-in-central-asia/): by Dr Zahid Usman Central Asia is a landlocked region comprised of rugged mountains spanning from Tian Shan and Pamirs to the vast Karakum and Kyzylkum deserts, and the fertile valleys of the Fergana Basin. Stretching over five countries with diverse geography, Central Asia has been the hub of ancient Silk Road trade connecting China with West Asia, South Asia and Europe. In this article I will discuss the often-overlooked annexation of Central Asia by the Russian Empire with special focus on Pamirs and signify its importance in the context of the Anglo-Russian competition that resulted in its integration into
- [Pay Less, Drive More — Pakistan Welcomes the New Foton high-roof Van](https://thehighasia.com/pay-less-drive-more-pakistan-welcomes-the-new-foton-high-roof-van/): Unigreen Automobiles has introduced Pakistan’s latest Foton high-roof commercial van Unigreen Automobiles has introduced Pakistan’s latest Foton high-roof commercial van, a spacious 16-seat vehicle designed for daily urban transport, long-distance routes, and heavy commercial use. Powered by the durable Mitsubishi-engineered 2.4L 4G69 engine, the van delivers approximately 136–150 hp and over 200 Nm of torque, supported by a 5-speed manual transmission and rear-wheel drive — a preferred layout for carrying full passenger loads on challenging routes. Its high-roof extended cabin, combined with a wheelbase of over 3000 mm, ensures stability and comfort, while fuel efficiency ranges between 8–11 km/l depending
- [Scholarly journeys through High Asia’s vernacular architecture](https://thehighasia.com/scholarly-journeys-through-high-asias-vernacular-architecture/): by Dr Zahid Usman Nestled at the confluence of the Pamir, Karakoram, Hindu Kush-Himalaya, and Sarikol ranges, lies an emblem of valleys that is home to one of the last bastions of ancient Iranian mountain culture. Vernacular architecture of the lesser-known High Asia region, or “Roof of the World” is a fundamental expression of human creativity, reflecting the cultural and historical spirit of its people. Its study provides invaluable insight into the ethnic identity, spiritual life and economic conditions of the communities living in the region. From the caisson ceiling often in a layered, square-on-square pattern with five-column house and
- [Fractures in Gilgit-Baltistan’s social fabric](https://thehighasia.com/fractures-in-gilgit-baltistans-social-fabric/): by Fazal Saadi The recent clash between student groups at Karakoram International University (KIU) the other day shattered the calm of Gilgit-Baltistan. Within a week, the assault on the Skardu polo team by members of the Gilgit team further deepened public anxiety. These recurring episodes of violence, often sparked by trivial disagreements yet rapidly escalating into sectarian or ethnic confrontations, are not random outbursts. Violence now erupts on university campuses, sports and cultural festivals become arenas for moral policing, and even weddings dissolve into confrontation. They are symptoms of social and political ills afflicting our society, pushing it to its
- [Ahmed Khan Johar: a symbol of kindness and healthy masculinity](https://thehighasia.com/ahmed-khan-johar-a-symbol-of-kindness-and-healthy-masculinity/): by Roheena Ali In a world where rigid expectations and stereotypes so often distort the definition of masculinity, Ahmed Khan Johar, a photojournalist, embodied a gentler, wiser and deeply humane alternative. His sudden passing yesterday (November 19, 2025) due to a cardiac arrest has left those who knew him in profound shock, disbelief and sorrow. Just yesterday, as the Women Expo in Skardu opened, Maryam was leading the event with women entrepreneurs from across Gilgit-Baltistan showcasing their work. And, as always, Ahmed was right there with her at every step and watching her shine. He moved quietly through the venue,
- [Raising children in our times: Gilgit-Baltistan leads the conversation](https://thehighasia.com/raising-children-in-our-times-gilgit-baltistan-leads-the-conversation/): by Israruddin Israr In an era defined by dazzling technology, fragmented communities, and an unsettling erosion of shared moral anchors, conversations on how we raise our children are no longer academic they are existential. As societies on the margins navigate a world reshaped by artificial intelligence, social media turbulence, and widening socio-economic divides, the question of how we nurture the next generation demands urgent and serious reflection. This was the central theme of the 13th International Conference on “Raising Children in Our Times”, hosted by Professional Development Centre North (PDCN) of Aga Khan University’s Institute for Educational Development (AKU-IED) in
- [The forgotten valleys of justice](https://thehighasia.com/the-forgotten-valleys-of-justice/): In Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral, justice eludes the poor while privilege is reserved for the powerful by Fazal Saadi On October 17, a teenaged boy from the remote Darodass village in Ishkoman Valley of Ghizer District, left home and never returned. His family waited for two days before filing an FIR at the Immit police station. Yet no search was launched. Six days later, it was not the police but villagers who found the missing boy’s body barely two kilometres from his home, in a place they had already searched. When the grief stricken family was allowed to see the body
- [Panellists for revival of customary wisdom for conflict resolution](https://thehighasia.com/panellists-for-revival-of-customary-wisdom-for-conflict-resolution/): ‘Village Model Development Plan’, rooted in local needs and endorsed by the wider community.  The model aims to adapt customary laws to address emerging challenges, including responsible tourism, environmental protection, land management.
- [The illusion of one sound](https://thehighasia.com/the-illusion-of-one-sound/): The ruling elite, tied to imperial interests, used the “One Nation, One Ummah” myth to suppress cultural diversity and conceal class conflict.
- [The rising tide of osteoarthritis in Gilgit-Baltistan](https://thehighasia.com/the-rising-tide-of-osteoarthritis-in-gilgit-baltistan/): The common factors contributing to osteoarthritis include genetic inheritance, a higher Body Mass Index (BMI), joint injuries, overuse of joints, and lifestyle-related nutritional changes.
- [Expert urges focus on risk assessment, not just hazards](https://thehighasia.com/expert-urges-focus-on-risk-assessment-not-just-hazards/): As glaciers in the Hindu Kush, Himalayas and Karakorams crumble, incomplete data leaves millions in peril by HAH Special Correspondent Islamabad: The recent disaster that swept through the mountains and valleys of Gilgit-Baltistan is merely a tip of the iceberg. A far greater catastrophe is brewing atop the region’s ice-clad peaks and within its glaciers. The recent devastation from floods, cloudbursts, and glacial lake outbursts reveals a grim reality: climate change is relentlessly melting the region’s glaciers. This process is creating a rapidly expanding network of unstable glacial lakes that threaten to unleash devastating floods upon vulnerable communities below. The
- [A call for saving lives, restoring dignity in flood relief](https://thehighasia.com/a-call-for-saving-lives-restoring-dignity-in-flood-relief/): by Seemi Bano The devastating floods have swept across Gilgit-Baltistan’s mountainous regions and Pakistan’s plains, leaving a trail of death, destruction and mass displacement. Triggered by torrential monsoon rains, cloudbursts, glacial lake outbursts, and floods, compounded by systemic unpreparedness and governance failures, the deluge has claimed over 800 lives and displaced more than 5 million people from G-B to Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, as well as into Punjab’s urban centres. The floodwaters now advance towards Sindh, leaving shattered livelihoods, damaged houses, shops and schools, destroyed religious places and crippled vital infrastructure in their wake. Yet, amid this profound tragedy, the human spirit of
- [G-B floods: put vulnerable segments at centre of response](https://thehighasia.com/g-b-floods-put-vulnerable-segments-at-centre-of-response/): Women are on the frontlines of caregiving, responsible for protecting children and older relatives in unsafe shelters, often while losing their own livelihoods—livestock, kitchen gardens, or home-based enterprises. They also face heightened risks of harassment and gender-based violence in overcrowded camps.  Children face disrupted education, exposure to contaminated water, and heightened risks of malnutrition and disease. For many, the trauma of losing homes and schools will have long-lasting effects.
- [Karachi’s performing arts academy in crisis as students raise alarm](https://thehighasia.com/performing-arts-academy/): Karachi’s performing arts academy is in crisis as students raise an alarm
- [Homegrown healing: respect nature, restore Gilgit-Baltistan](https://thehighasia.com/homegrown-healing-respect-nature-restore-gilgit-baltistan/): Gilgit-Baltistan has borne the brunt of torrential rains, cloudbursts, and glacial lake disasters claiming 41 lives and displacing hundreds of people and washing away crop lands, orchards, communication, electricity and water supply infrastructures in three divisions of Gilgit-Baltistan.
- [A glacier's lament for the Earth](https://thehighasia.com/a-glaciers-lament-for-the-earth/): by Israruddin Israr The journey began at tranquil Borith Lake, its calm waters mirroring the rugged grandeur of the Karakoram peaks. From this serene oasis, I set out toward the mighty Passu Glacier, starting my trek at Borith Zero Point. The trail wound through rocky slopes and alpine silence, each step carrying me closer to a timeless world of ice. When I finally stood before the glacier, I felt dwarfed by its majesty, an ancient sentinel guarding nature’s strength and memory. The glaciers of Gilgit-Baltistan, once symbols of life and stability, are melting at alarming rates. Glacial Lake Outburst Floods
- [Resilient rebuilding for climate-smart mountain communities](https://thehighasia.com/resilient-rebuilding-for-climate-smart-mountain-communities/): by Fazal Saadi The sky tore open, and hell poured out in Gilgit-Baltistan’s Ghizer District. What followed was an avalanche of water and fury, sweeping away all in its path—boulders, bridges, homes, orchards, and houses of worship. On July 30th and August 14th, the floods transformed the Ishkoman Valley’s tranquil mountain slops into a conduit for catastrophe. The calamity was not merely rain; it was a churning, black torrent of absolute devastation that swallowed the landscape, severing communities and erasing the very fabric of life in a single, roaring blow. According to initial estimates, in Dain village the floods reduced
- [A strategic framework for climate resilience in Gilgit-Baltistan](https://thehighasia.com/a-strategic-framework-for-climate-resilience-in-gilgit-baltistan/): by Mishal Jahan This summer Gilgit-Baltistan experienced one of its harshest flood seasons in recent times. Accelerated glacial melt, compounded by an unprecedented heatwave reaching 48.5 °C and weeks of heavy monsoon rains, set off a chain of disasters: glacial lake outburst flash floods, landslides, and sudden cloudbursts that left entire valleys cut off. In Daeen valley of Ishkoman a glacial lake burst its banks on August 22, destroyed a historic bridge, over 330 homes. Further downstream, the mudslide dammed the Ghizer River creating a temporary lake of about seven kilometers. Khalti, Chatorkhand and Asumber valleys in Yasin, Gupis were
- [Disasters in Gilgit-Baltistan: surge in waterborne diseases](https://thehighasia.com/disasters-in-gilgit-baltistan-surge-in-waterborne-diseases/): by Sadia Gulzar Over the past month, heavy rains, cloudbursts, and flash floods in Gilgit-Baltistan have not only caused deaths and widespread destruction of infrastructure, including the water supply system, but have also displaced hundreds of people and created multiple public health challenges. Among the most pressing issues are severe water shortages and a rise in waterborne diseases. Recent reports indicate that hundreds of people, including women and children under the age of five have been the most affected by these diseases. A government spokesperson stated that hospitals are overwhelmed with patients, particularly in Diamer, Shigar, Skardu, Astore, Ghizer and
- [Gilgit-Baltistan drowns in disasters, suffers from state neglect](https://thehighasia.com/gilgit-baltistan-drowns-in-disasters-suffers-from-state-neglect/): by Fazal Saadi For the past one-month, torrential rains and flash-floods continue to ravage Gilgit-Baltistan. More than 15 people have lost their lives and many more displaced and devastated. From Ghizer to Baltistan, Diamer to Gojal, Astore to Chitral glacial lake outbursts floods (GLOFs) continue to wreak havoc. Across the region, widespread damages to settlements, livelihoods, roads, and essential infrastructure, including communication, electricity, and water supply, has severed links between villages, valleys and the wider Gilgit-Baltistan region crippled life in the affected areas and making survival increasingly difficult. The most affected valleys are Ishkoman, Gupis and Yasin in Ghizer; Ghuwari,
- [AWP slams govt apathy over deadly floods in GB, Kashmir, K-P](https://thehighasia.com/awp-slams-govt-apathy-over-deadly-floods-in-gb-kashmir-k-p/): Party leadership expresses deep sorrow over the loss of precious lives in Dain (Ishkoman), Khalti (Gupis), Bunardas (Chilas), Danyore, Swat, Dir, Buner, Bajaur and other areas Special Correspondent Islamabad: The Awami Workers Party (AWP) has condemned the completely haphazard response of the ruling hybrid regime to terrifying flash-floods in Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B), Kashmir and the mountainous regions of Chitral, Swat, Buner, Dir, Bajaur and other parts of Pakhtunkhwa, resulting in the loss of over one hundred lives, displacement of hundreds of people, and destruction of their houses, orchards, livelihood and major infrastructure, collapse of bridges and most road networks as well
- [Gilgit-Baltistan: smoking, vaping pose a growing health emergency](https://thehighasia.com/gilgit-baltistan-smoking-vaping-pose-a-growing-health-emergency/): by Sadia Gulzar The migration of young people from Gilgit-Baltistan to distant urban centres in pursuit of academic excellence and employment might be a choice for few but a compulsion for many. It is the inevitable result of sheer state neglect, lack of quality education, scarce economic prospects, and vanishing job opportunities in their native areas. Forced to leave in search of knowledge and livelihoods, they arrive in Pakistan’s cities only to face a different environment of alienation, economic hardship, and social dislocation. Many of them are seduced into self-destructive habits such as smoking as a glamour of fashion or
- [Silk Route Festival-- a stage for corporate colonial resource grab](https://thehighasia.com/silk-route-festival-a-stage-for-corporate-colonial-resource-grab/): by Safiullah Baig The much-publicised Silk Route Festival, dubbed a cultural celebration, opened on Saturday at Hunza’s main town, Karimabad. But beneath the performances, exhibitions, and hollow promises lies a deliberate ploy by colonial and corporate powers to divert public attention from mounting crises of land and mineral resources exploitation, environmental destruction, and longstanding constitutional and democratic deprivation in Gilgit-Baltistan. Gilgit-Baltistan is currently suffering under the worst forms of Pakistan’s colonial oppression, land grabs, and resource plunder. Amid this exploitation, yet another colonial state entity—the Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC)—has teamed up with a handful of monopoly corporate groups, remnants
- [TMC powers ‘digital leap’ to revolutionise higher education](https://thehighasia.com/tmc-powers-digital-leap-to-revolutionise-higher-education/): The outgoing HEC Chair, Dr Mukhtar Ahmad, appeared as a holographic host, the first of its kind in Pakistan’s history, reflecting the innovative spirit driving this transformation
- [Book Review: War, Love, and the Unmade Picture](https://thehighasia.com/book-review-war-love-and-the-unmade-picture/): by Aftab Husain The novelette Jang Mein Muhabbat ki Tasveer Nahin Banti resists the very tradition of war literature it appears to inhabit. On its surface, it tells of lives destroyed and distorted in the crucible of violence, but beneath that surface runs an unrelenting interrogation of storytelling itself—what it means to narrate love when war is the backdrop, what it means to “represent” horror when representation itself falters. The very title, a declaration that “a picture of love cannot be drawn in war,” sets the stage for a work that is less a chronicle of events than an inquiry
- [Javed Naji's assassination sparks uproar in Gilgit-Baltistan](https://thehighasia.com/javed-najis-assassination-sparks-uproar-in-gilgit-baltistan/): by F.Ali & Nadeem Aman The political landscape of Gilgit-Baltistan was jolted last week by the brazen daylight assassination of Javed Qureshi—widely known as Numberdar Javed Naji—a rising political and resistance figure from Diamer Division and a fearless voice for the region’s disenfranchised. On July 31, Naji was gunned down in Tangir Valley’s Darkali area, alongside a woman identified as Chaman, with his wife critically injured in the attack. His children and mother reportedly survived the shooting. The assailants, named in police reports as Afsar Khan and Dar Khan, allegedly opened fire while Naji and his family were at a
- [Colonial rule fuels ecological catastrophes in Gilgit-Baltistan](https://thehighasia.com/colonial-rule-fuels-ecological-catastrophe-in-gilgit-baltistan/): by Safiullah Baig The recent devastating floods and ecological disasters in Gilgit-Baltistan are not isolated natural events. They are the direct consequence of 77 years of colonial occupation, chronic misgovernance under non-local bureaucratic rule, the systematic plunder of natural, cultural, economic, and social resources, and the elimination of local governance, which has entirely excluded the region’s population from decision-making processes. The ultimate responsibility lies with Pakistan’s ruling elite and their local collaborators. Environmental destruction in Gilgit-Baltistan is not merely the result of deforestation, as some commentators suggest. To reduce these growing catastrophes solely to forest degradation is to whitewash the
- [Pakistan’s polio resurgence stymies global eradication efforts](https://thehighasia.com/pakistans-polio-resurgence-stymies-global-eradication-efforts/): Polio eradication is not just a health priority—it is a national emergency. Without urgent action, Pakistan risks reversing decades of progress, leaving future generations vulnerable to a preventable disease. The time to act is now.
- [Taxation, TIR and the constitutional crisis in Gilgit-Baltistan](https://thehighasia.com/taxation-tir-and-the-constitutional-crisis-in-gilgit-baltistan/): If the government intends to tax G-B like other provinces, it must also grant it equivalent political representation, legal clarity, and constitutional recognition.
- [Ruin and radiance: rediscovering Sherani and Adam](https://thehighasia.com/ruin-and-radiance-rediscovering-sherani-and-adam/): Akhtar Sherani and Abdul Hameed Adam were poets whose verses shimmered with longing, whose biographies bore the same marks of indulgence and vulnerability that their couplets hinted at, and whose reputations rose to extraordinary heights only to recede in the collective memory of our language. They were, each in his way, emblems of an Urdu literary culture that treasured both aesthetic refinement and personal candour, and that was never entirely sure whether to admire them for their luminous art or to pity them for the shadows it cast over their private lives.
- [Cardiovascular disease -- a growing health crisis in Gilgit-Baltistan](https://thehighasia.com/cardiovascular-disease-a-growing-health-crisis-in-gilgit-baltistan/): By Sadia Gulzar Gilgit-Baltistan, recently recognised by CNN as one of the world’s most breathtaking tourist destinations, attracts thousands of visitors each summer who come to witness its natural wonders. Yet, behind this scenic beauty lies a pressing healthcare challenge, forcing residents to travel to major cities like Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad for medical treatment due to the region’s lack of quality healthcare facilities. Among the many health issues plaguing Gilgit-Baltistan, cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) have emerged as a growing concern. Rapid lifestyle changes and the influx of substandard food products from down country have contributed to an alarming rise in heart-related
- [Highway tolls, hollow rights](https://thehighasia.com/highway-tolls-hollow-rights/): In both the Nagar and Gulmit cases the toll collection points were reportedly established by the NHA without prior consultation with local administrative bodies and communities. Public reaction was swift and organised, reflecting the growing awareness of their rights and an increasingly unwillingness to accept policies dictated from Islamabad
- [Urban isolation --  the silent tragedy of modern life](https://thehighasia.com/tragedy-of-urban-isolation/): By Wazir Aftab Hussain In a deeply tragic and heartbreaking development, the decayed body of Pakistani model and actor Humaira Asghar was found in her Lahore apartment, more than six months after her death. This chilling discovery, marked by its loneliness, serves as a powerful and poignant metaphor for the age we live in. For over half a year, not a single family member, colleague, or friend checked in on her. No one raised questions about her absence, no one noticed her silence, and no one mourned her until her death became a headline. It was only when a bailiff
- [Balochistan: a new turf for global powers' resource capture](https://thehighasia.com/balochistan-a-new-turf-for-global-powers-resource-capture/): Abdul Ghaffar Bugti As the US-China rivalry escalates, Balochistan has emerged as a new battleground for the 21st-century ‘Great Game’. The natural resource-rich but politically volatile province has become an epicenter of global corporate competition; its vast reserves of copper, gold, lithium, and antimony igniting a frenzied scramble between the international powers. These minerals are critical for renewable energy, advanced technology, and military applications, making Balochistan a strategic prize in the game. China, already engaged through its $65 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), has poured billions into infrastructure and resource extraction, securing a dominant geopolitical foothold in the region. The US and its
- [AWP protests Israeli, US aggression on Iran, Gaza](https://thehighasia.com/awp-protests-israeli-us-aggression-on-iran-gaza/): Islamabad, June 25: The Awami Workers Party held protests, in Sindh, Punjab and Pakhtunkhwa on Wednesday against the US-backed Israeli genocide of the Palestinian people in Gaza as well as airstrikes in Iran. Scores of progressive political workers, students, intellectuals, trade unionists, katchi abadi residents and ordinary citizens joined the protest at the respective press clubs, warning that the US-backed Zionist regime threatens to spark WW-III. The protests were held on the call of the Awami Workers Party (AWP). The protesters also criticised the complicity of Jordan, UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and demanded that the Pakistani state clearly renounce its
- [G-B youth for release of political leaders, abolition of colonial laws](https://thehighasia.com/protest-call-for-release-of-aac-leaders/): Karachi, June 22: A meeting of the Gilgit-Baltistan Youth Alliance, Karachi, was held in Nazimabad, Karachi, where representatives of various nationalist groups discussed the ongoing political crisis in the region. The meeting focused on the protests for the immediate release of leaders of the Awami Action Committee (AAC), reversal of the controversial Land Reforms Act 2025, the Minerals and Mining Act, and the broader political situation in Gilgit-Baltistan. The participants also condemned the recent US and Israeli attacks on Iran and unanimously decided to hold a protest in Karachi on June 28 to press for the following demands: The key
- [Maternal mortality up as Dera Bugti healthcare system collapses](https://thehighasia.com/maternal-mortality-up-as-dera-bugti-healthcare-system-collapses/): 54+ deaths in 15 months spotlight government inaction, systemic failures in remote areas of Balochistan News desk DERA BUGTI: A disturbing surge in maternal mortality rates has exposed critical gaps in healthcare infrastructure and government responsiveness in Dera Bugti, Balochistan. The latest tragedy unfolded in Pirkoh, where another woman died during childbirth this week, underscoring a pattern of neglect that has claimed over 54 lives in the past 15 months. Local reporters confirm at least 54 maternal deaths since january 2024, with multiple fatalities reported in Pirkoh alone in recent days.Deaths are primarily attributed to the absence of timely emergency
- [Silent colonisation in G-B: profits for elites, poverty for locals](https://thehighasia.com/the-silent-colonization-of-gilgit-baltistan/): From the Luxus Hotel to border trade—a legacy of colonial exploitation by Farman Baig Behind the glittering facade of the Luxus Hunza Hotel lies a darker truth—this isn’t just another luxury resort, but a glaring monument to the systemic plunder of Gilgit-Baltistan. The hotel’s controversial establishment in Hunza district serves as a naked display of the colonial-style exploitation gripping this disputed region, where natural resources are ruthlessly extracted while local voices are systematically silenced. The colonial system has, to some extent, succeeded in silencing local leadership through arrests and suppressing genuine political voices. China border trade, which serves as the
- [Does G-B Land Reforms Act Have Constitutional Legitimacy?](https://thehighasia.com/does-the-gb-land-reforms-act-2025-have-constitutional-legitimacy/): Beyond the bill’s contentious provisions lies a more fundamental question: Does the GBA even possess the constitutional authority to repeal the Nautor Rule or legislate on such a critical issue?
- [Rising artists reflect on self, society, and ecology](https://thehighasia.com/rising-artists-reflect-on-self-society-and-ecology/): By F. Ali Islamabad: A dynamic group exhibition that opened at Gallery 6 on May 24 captures the evolving voice of a new generation of Pakistani artists. Curated by Dr Arjumand Faisel, the show presents 14 recent graduates from the National College of Arts (NCA) Lahore and Rawalpindi, offering a powerful snapshot of emotional, social, and environmental reflections by a new generation of artists shaped by experimentation, technical rigor, and personal insight. “These thesis exhibitions consistently generate interest among critics, curators, collectors, and enthusiasts. They offer a first glimpse into the minds of emerging artists, revealing trends, techniques, and thematic
- [Land Reforms Act: a legal overreach threatening indigenous rights](https://thehighasia.com/land-reforms-act-a-legal-overreach-threatening-indigenous-rights/): By Amin Beg The Gilgit-Baltistan Land Reforms Act, 2025, passed by the region’s Assembly last week in haste has sparked widespread controversy and alarm, revealing deep legal ambiguities and institutional flaws that could pave the way for elite capture and systemic land grabbing. At the heart of the dispute lies the bill’s vague definition of “Government Land,” which risks the arbitrary reclassification of ancestral and communal lands, especially in areas lacking formal land records. Compounding the concern is the bill’s absence of judicial oversight, provision of immunity to officials, and the authorisation of summary evictions without due process, creating a
- [A misguided call: Gilgit-Baltistan is not waiting for India](https://thehighasia.com/gilgit-baltistan-is-not-waiting-for-india/): by Ghulam Amin Beg In his article titled “Freed from Pakistan’s Shackles: India’s Time to Bring Gilgit-Baltistan Home,” published on April 29, 2025, Girish Linganna argues that Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) is under Pakistan’s oppressive control and suggests that India should now reclaim the region. He highlights real governance challenges faced by the disputed region. Still, he uses these as a springboard for a sweeping and problematic call for Indian intervention—one that dangerously ignores history, local agency, and current political realities. Yes, the people of Gilgit-Baltistan face numerous legitimate challenges — decades of constitutional limbo, colonial-era governance structures, land appropriation, capture and
- [A critical analysis of learning crisis in Gilgit-Baltistan schools](https://thehighasia.com/a-critical-analysis-of-learning-crisis-in-gilgit-baltistan-schools/): Gilgit-Baltistan's learning crisis is not an isolated administrative lapse. It is a symptom of systemic neglect, class oppression, and institutional failure.
- [Security vs hospitality: a call for smarter tourism regulation in G-B](https://thehighasia.com/security-vs-hospitality-a-call-for-smarter-tourism-regulation-in-g-b/): by Ghulam Amin Beg Hunza’s breathtaking landscapes, nestled in the Karakoram mountains of Gilgit-Baltistan, have increasingly come to symbolize Pakistan’s tourism potential. With the region drawing thousands of domestic and international tourists annually, maintaining a balance between security and the preservation of its peaceful character has become an urgent priority. In the wake of a tragic incident in Pahalgam valley of the Indian-administered Kashmir and subsequent threats issued by the Indian authorities, a wave of uncertainty has spread among local stakeholders. In what appears to be a knee-jerk reaction, the district administration conducted security audit in haste categorizing small hotels
- [PrSF backs Gilgit-Baltistan’s fight against resource capture](https://thehighasia.com/prsf-backs-gilgit-baltistans-fight-against-resource-capture/): News Desk Islamabad: The Progressive Students Federation (PrSF), a Left-wing student body has expressed ‘unwavering solidarity’ with the ongoing resistance of the people of Gilgit-Baltistan against the systematic land and natural resources capture being carried out by the Pakistani and global capitalist interests. In a statement, the PrSF declared: “We stand with the people of Gilgit-Baltistan in their courageous struggle against the encroachment on their land, livelihoods, and natural resources. The student body has contested the neoliberal development model and nexus of the Pakistani Establishment and the global imperialist powers to extract resources of the nations on the margines. “What
- [Forts of Potohar -- guardians of history and culture](https://thehighasia.com/forts-of-potohar-guardians-of-history-and-culture/): by Farman Ali The Potohar region, with its rugged charm and profound historical depth, has long captivated the imagination of historians, travellers, and archaeologists alike. Its plateaus and timeworn relics whisper stories of forgotten civilizations and vibrant cultural legacies. Countless books and travelogues have explored its lost heritage and dynamic social fabric, including the seminal Potohar: Khita-e-Dilruba (Potohar: The Land of the Beloved) by Professor Dr. Shahid Hassan Siddiqui, which offers a deeply human portrait of Rawalpindi’s literary and social life. Now, a new chapter is being added to Potohar’s unfolding narrative. Forts of Potohar, authored by Naeema Arshad, assistant
- [Workshop explores Pakistan's undocumented languages](https://thehighasia.com/workshop-explores-pakistans-undocumented-languages/): News Desk Islamabad, April 14: A five-day linguistic workshop focusing on Pakistan’s undocumented and under-documented languages kick started at the Allama Iqbal Open University on Monday, according to a presser issued by the Forum for Language Initiatives (FLI) which is hosting the workshop in collaboration with AIOU. Facilitated by Dr Henrik Liljegren, Head of the Department of Linguistics at Stockholm University, Sweden, this collaborative effort aims to preserve Pakistan’s rich linguistic heritage, During the opening session, Dr Liljegren outlined the objectives and structure of the workshop, paving the way for an intensive learning experience. Director of Administration Dr Amir, the
- [Debt chains and gated colonies: empire of hyper-colonialism](https://thehighasia.com/debt-chains-and-gated-colonies-empire-of-hyper-colonialism/): “Akhtar Ali Syed explores how domination is not only imposed by foreign entities but is equally entrenched through domestic actors who replicate colonial hierarchies” by Muhammad Obaid Ahmed The departure of colonial powers from their former colonies was not the end of exploitation, but the beginning of a more covert, sophisticated form of domination. This system, famously described by Kwame Nkrumah as “neo-colonialism,” replaced physical occupation with economic manipulation. As nations celebrated political independence, their economies were quietly ensnared in webs spun by international capital. Nkrumah sharply identified international capital controls as a crucial tool wielded against developing nations. He
- [Pakistan in peril: economic ruin and militarisation of society](https://thehighasia.com/pakistan-in-peril-economic-ruin-and-militarisation-of-society/): Democratic decentralisation such as granting ownership of resources to the people of Balochistan, Pakhtunkhwa, and internal autonomy, self-rule to Gilgit-Baltistan, could mitigate extremist militancy and separatist impulses
- [Indus canals: AWP calls for nationwide protests on 22nd](https://thehighasia.com/indus-canals-awp-calls-for-nationwide-protests-on-22nd/): The Party warns of ecological, and social crises if the pillage of mineral, and water resources continues, expresses solidarity with people’s resistance movements News Desk Islamabad: The Awami Workers Party (AWP) has announced a National Day of Action on March 22, 2025, to protest the government’s plan to construct six canals on the Indus River, which it claims is being promoted under the guise of supporting corporate farming. The party has warned that the project could trigger an ecological disaster affecting regions from Gilgit-Baltistan to Sindh, while further marginalising indigenous communities and working-class populations. In a statement issued after its
- [Resource capture in Gilgit-Baltistan](https://thehighasia.com/resource-capture-in-gilgit-baltistan/): Resource capture in Gilgit-Baltistan is a stark reminder of the region's continued exploitation and marginalisation. The control of the Sost Dry Port, the leasing of mineral resources to non-local investors, and the disregard for environmental and indigenous laws all point to a systemic pattern of exclusion and exploitation. If this trend continues, Gilgit-Baltistan risks becoming a textbook example of how powerful actors can hijack development initiatives to serve their interests at the expense of local communities and the environment.
- [AWP backs dam affectees, opposes mineral exploitation in Gilgit-Baltistan](https://thehighasia.com/awp-backs-dam-affectees-opposes-mineral-exploitation-in-g-b/): The Awami Workers Party (AWP) has declared its unwavering solidarity with the protest movement led by the people of Diamer against the displacements, lack of compensation, and ecological destruction caused by the Diamer-Bhasha Dam. The party has called for a complete overhaul of the Pakistani state’s colonial policies toward Gilgit-Baltistan (GB). In a statement, AWP General Secretary Bakhshal Thalho highlighted that the over two million residents of GB have been living in a state of limbo for 78 years under the pretext of the “Kashmir dispute.” He pointed out that GB is not even mentioned in the Pakistani constitution, while
- [AWP warns of civil war in Balochistan, KP](https://thehighasia.com/awp-warns-of-civil-war-in-balochistan-kp/): AWP General Secretary Bakhshal Thalho demands policy overhaul, an end to militarisation in the two provinces News Desk Islamabad: The Awami Workers Party (AWP) has expressed concern over the escalating violence in Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, including targeted killings, suicide bombings, enforced disappearances, and relentless military operations. AWP general secretary Dr Bakhshal Thalho, in a media statement Wednesday, in the wake of yesterday’s militant attack on Bannu Cantonment, called for an urgent overhaul of state policy, warning that failure to act will plunge both provinces into outright civil war. The AWP reiterated its long-standing demand for Pakistan to adopt a non-aligned
- [UK aid cuts may jeopardise climate pledges to vulnerable nations](https://thehighasia.com/uk-aid-cuts-may-jeopardise-climate-pledges-to-vulnerable-nations/): The reduction in the UK’s aid budget raises critical questions about the country’s commitment to supporting developing nations in tackling climate change. At a time when global cooperation is essential, these cuts could weaken international climate action efforts and leave vulnerable communities struggling without the promised financial support.
- [AWPGB rejects Land Act, supports Dam affected people's demands](https://thehighasia.com/awpgb-rejects-land-act-supports-diamer-dam-affected-people/): AWPGB has rejected the Land Reforms Act, Sost Border Pass policy and reaffirmed its support for the Diamer Dam affected communities' demands. The party vowed to continue their struggle to protect the rights of the people and resist any government action against public interests. They appealed to the public to join in this struggle and remain united in protecting their rights.
- [Marxism for the man in the streets](https://thehighasia.com/marxism-for-the-man-in-the-streets/): A new biography of Laurence Gronlund, a long-forgotten yet pivotal Marxian propagandist, sheds light on the rich complexities of Gilded Age socialism — one that forces us to consider how we package and present socialist ideas.
- [Struggles and shadows: the urban nightmare for Pakistani women](https://thehighasia.com/struggles-and-shadows-the-urban-nightmare-for-pakistani-women/): Soaring violence against women exposes systemic failures, and complicity by Ghafar Bugti The chilling headlines emerging from Punjab over the past month have laid bare a harrowing truth: Pakistan’s urban centres, frequently celebrated as beacons of progress, are catastrophically failing their women. From the shadowy suburban gambling dens of Vehari to the manicured enclaves of Lahore’s gated communities, women’s bodies have been reduced to arenas of male entitlement, systemic apathy, and societal betrayal. This is not just a crisis — it is a profound moral unraveling, a stark indictment of a system that has turned a blind eye to the
- [Editorial: The unyielding cry of Gilgit-Baltistan’s oppressed](https://thehighasia.com/the-unyielding-cry-of-gilgit-baltistans-oppressed/): CR Akbar Shah The historic struggle of the Diamer Dam affected people has erupted into a defining moment of resistance, as the Pakistani state’s hollow promises and colonial exploitation collide with the unrelenting resolve of a mobilised populace. With two rounds of failed negotiations between protesters and a toothless ministerial committee, the movement has surged into a critical phase. The Awami Action Committee’s call for a long march from Gilgit to Chilas, the headquarter of Diamer Division, on February 27 has sent shockwaves through the corridors of power in Islamabad and Gilgit-Baltistan, exposing a ruling elite paralysed by fear and
- ['Gilgit-Baltistan’s soul lies in its stones, trees, and tongues'](https://thehighasia.com/gilgit-baltistans-soul-lies-in-its-stones-trees-and-tongues/): News Desk Language is not merely a tool for communication—it is the very fabric of our identity, the lens through which we perceive the world and the force that shapes the environment we inhabit. This was the essence of a speech made by Aziz Ali Dad, a thinker, and author of Nomadic Meditations, at an event arranged by the Sasken Research and Development Foundation to celebrate International Mother Tongue Day and Climate Change in Gilgit the other day. “Modern philosophy teaches us that we do not own language; rather, we are bound to it.” Discussing mother language’s importance, he argued:
- [Voices of the Pamirs: Wakhi’s fight to survive in the digital age](https://thehighasia.com/voices-of-the-pamirs-wakhis-fight-to-survive-in-the-digital-age/): By Ali Qurban Mughani As the world commemorates the 25th anniversary of International Mother Tongue Day, speakers of Xikhwor (Wakhi)—a vulnerable language of the High Asia region—are battling to preserve and promote their linguistic heritage from extinction. In this essay, I will explore the origin, historical significance, and contemporary challenges confronting the Wakhi language. History The Wakhi speakers — approximately 50,000–60,000–are dispersed across High Asia – Afghanistan’s Wakhan Corridor, Tajikistan’s Gorno-Badakhshan Oblast, China’s southwestern Tashkurgan County of Xinjiang, and Pakistan-administered Gilgit-Baltistan’s Hunza and Ghizer districts, as well as Broghil valley of Chitral with a growing diaspora in Europe, North America,
- [Fortifying digital frontier: NomadsTech takes lead in cybersecurity](https://thehighasia.com/nomadstech-takes-lead-in-cybersecurity/): News Desk Islamabad: Amid an unrelenting surge of cyberattacks targeting critical national and financial sectors, NomadsTech, a private cybersecurity firm, has embarked on a an ambitious plan to shield Pakistan’s digital ecosystem. With banks, telecom giants, and government institutions reeling from sophisticated breaches and ransomware assaults, Najm Us Saqib, a cybersecurity vizard and founder of NomadsTech, warns that the nation’s booming digital economy—projected to exceed $100 billion by 2030—faces existential risks sans urgent action. “Pakistan’s digital growth is outpacing its defences,” Saqib stated in an exclusive interview. Recent reports from the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and Federal Investigation Agency (FIA)

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- [Sidebar](https://thehighasia.com/sidebar/): Tracking 3 decades of dramatic glacial lake growth In the largest-ever study of glacial lakes, researchers using a 30-year satellite data record have found that the volume of these lakes worldwide has increased by about 50% since 1990 as glaciers melt and retreat due to climate change. Courtest: NASA/National Geographic https://youtu.be/rvRCKgw2B8k Recent Stories The High Asia Videos Previous Next Most Read Stories Follow Us On Facebook Twitter Youtube Instagram Pinterest
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