Ladakh’s demand on Gilgit-Baltistan

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Context (TH): Ladakh local parties have presented certain demands to the Ministry of Home Affairs.
These include extending the territorial control of Ladakh up to Gilgit-Baltistan in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

Current status of Ladakh

Ladakh was a part of the Kashmir division of the erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir.
It was carved out as one of the Union Territories, the other being Jammu and Kashmir.
However, unlike the UT of J&K, Ladakh does not have a legislature.
There are two elected hill councils, the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council-Kargil (LAHDC) and LAHDC-Leh.
Ladakh: Muslim-majority; Leh district: Buddhists; Kargil: Shia Muslims.
For many decades, Leh supported the demand for UT status.
However, after the events of 2019, Kargil has been insisting on reunification with Kashmir.

Demand of legislature: Campaigns for the restoration of Statehood with a legislature are being run.
Special status: Application of the Sixth Schedule and Article 371 are also on the lines of Mizoram, Tripura, Sikkim and other northeastern States.
- People of Ladakh argue that opening the region to outsiders and outside investment will impact “the most ecologically fragile and sensitive areas.
Ladakh also demands exclusive rights over recruitment and the constitution of the Ladakh Public Service Commission.

Prior to 1947, the Ladakh district also comprised the Gilgit-Baltistan area, which is now under Pakistan’s occupation.
The memorandum highlights the fact and seeks an extension of territorial control up to Gilgit-Baltistan with “attempts to include this area into Ladakh”.
It demanded the reservation of seats for Gilgit-Baltistan once a legislature was granted to the region.
Memorandum also demands empowering the locals to foster stability to enhance the foreign policy.

To discuss the demands, a committee under the Minister of State was constituted.
Assurance of an appropriate solution to the issues related to language, culture and conservation of land in Ladakh was given.
After the 2023 protests, a new 17-member committee, including the Ladakh Lieutenant Governor and members from the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) and Leh Apex Body (LAB), was constituted.