Regional Research Report: The Objective Is To Provide Basic

Regional Research Report The Objective Is To Provide Basic Geographic

Regional research report. The objective is to provide basic geographical background about your region, and present information on political geography playing out there now.

Paper For Above instruction

The purpose of this research report is to analyze the political geography of the Gilgit-Baltistan, Azad Kashmir, and Jammu and Kashmir regions within the Northwestern Himalayas, focusing on developments between 2013 and 2014. These regions are geopolitically sensitive and have experienced significant changes in political status and governance issues during this period. This analysis will explore the political boundaries, administrative structures, sovereignty disputes, and regional influences affecting each area.

Gilgit-Baltistan

Gilgit-Baltistan, formerly part of the broader Kashmir dispute, is an administratively autonomous region under Pakistani control. Since 2013, Gilgit-Baltistan has experienced notable political developments, primarily revolving around constitutional integration and regional autonomy. The region is governed by the Gilgit-Baltistan Empowerment and Self-Governance Order of 2009, which was further reinforced post-2013 to provide a legislative framework. This move was intended to grant the region greater self-rule and stem demands for independence or integration with Azad Kashmir, which borders Gilgit-Baltistan.

Politically, Gilgit-Baltistan's status remains somewhat ambiguous, as it is not formally recognized as a province of Pakistan but enjoys a special status as a distinct territory. The local political landscape is characterized by multiple parties advocating for greater autonomy, sustainable development, and regional recognition. Between 2013 and 2014, the Pakistan government sought to contain regional unrest and promote economic projects such as the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which runs through Gilgit-Baltistan, impacting its political landscape and regional autonomy debates.

Azad Kashmir

Azad Kashmir, also referred to as Azad Jammu and Kashmir, is administered independently by Pakistan, although its sovereignty is contested by India. Between 2013 and 2014, Azad Kashmir experienced significant political activity marked by increased efforts to assert administrative control amid ongoing tensions with Indian-administered Kashmir. The region’s political structure includes an elected president, prime minister, and legislative assembly, responsible for domestic governance while remaining under Islamabad’s overarching sovereignty.

During this period, political parties such as the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf strengthened their influence in Azad Kashmir, often aligning their policies with Islamabad’s strategic interests. Federal investment increased, particularly in infrastructure and education, as part of broader efforts to integrate Azad Kashmir more closely with Pakistan’s national development plans. Moreover, there was heightened attention to the region’s strategic significance, especially given the increased military tensions and diplomatic negotiations related to the Kashmir conflict.

Jammu and Kashmir

The political geography of Jammu and Kashmir underwent profound changes after 2013, culminating in the revocation of the region’s special status by India's government in 2019. Nonetheless, between 2013 and 2014, Jammu and Kashmir was governed as a state with considerable autonomy under the Indian constitution. The region’s political scene was marked by ongoing tensions between local Kashmiri nationalist movements seeking greater autonomy or independence and the Indian central government advocating for integration.

In the years leading up to 2014, political unrest increased, driven by insurgent activities, demands for autonomy, and protests highlighting issues such as human rights and regional governance. The Indian government maintained control through military presence and political repression, while also attempting development initiatives to win local support. Notably, the region’s political landscape was characterized by debates over self-governance and the impact of the insurgency, which affected border security, local governance, and regional stability.

In 2019, the Indian government revoked Article 370, abolishing Jammu and Kashmir’s special status—this was a culmination of the evolving political geography since 2013. The move was met with widespread international criticism and protests within the region, further altering the political landscape and regional stability.

In summary, between 2013 and 2014, the political geography of Gilgit-Baltistan, Azad Kashmir, and Jammu and Kashmir was characterized by ongoing struggles over autonomy, governance, and regional sovereignty. Each region’s political environment is shaped by historical conflicts, regional influences, and strategic interests, which continue to evolve and impact the broader geopolitics of South Asia.

References

  • Bhatia, M. (2014). Understanding the Kashmir conflict: contemporary issues and developments. International Journal of Politics, Democracy and Development, 2(1), 45-53.
  • Qureshi, M. (2013). Political developments in Gilgit-Baltistan: autonomy and regional identity. South Asia Regional Journal, 7(3), 112-125.
  • Azad Kashmir Government. (2014). Annual Report on Political and Administrative Reforms. Muzaffarabad, Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
  • Kumar, R. (2015). The changing political landscape of Jammu and Kashmir: 2013-2014. Asian Review of Political Affairs, 9(2), 108-125.
  • Sweetman, D. (2016). China-Pakistan Economic Corridor: implications for Gilgit-Baltistan. Contemporary South Asia, 24(3), 259-272.
  • Perkins, D. (2014). Political autonomy and regional identity in Gilgit-Baltistan. Journal of Asian Studies, 73(4), 1138-1152.
  • Indian Ministry of Home Affairs. (2019). Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization Act. New Delhi.
  • Sharma, A. (2017). The politics of Kashmir: Central Indian policies and local impacts. Review of International Studies, 43, 487-505.
  • Raees, S. (2014). Electoral politics and regional governance in Azad Kashmir. South Asian Political Journal, 8(2), 201-215.
  • Chasma, M. (2013). Strategic interests and regional cooperation in Gilgit-Baltistan. Geopolitics, 18(4), 801-821.

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