Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) have agreed to initiate negotiations to resolve decades-old boundary disputes between the two regions, marking a significant step towards peaceful settlement of longstanding territorial disagreements.
The agreement was reached during a meeting between KP Governor Faisal Karim Kundi and Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Minister Amjad Hussain in Islamabad on Sunday. The leaders discussed several disputed areas, including Shandur Top, Babusar Top and territories surrounding the Diamer-Bhasha and Dassu dams.
According to a statement issued by the GB Chief Minister’s Secretariat, the chief secretaries of both regions will initially take up the disputed matters before referring them to their respective political leaderships for further discussions.
The proposed negotiations aim to resolve territorial disagreements through mutual understanding and peaceful dialogue, preventing further tensions between communities living along the disputed boundaries.
Shandur Top, famous for hosting the world’s highest polo ground at an altitude of approximately 12,500 feet, remains claimed by both regions. Similarly, the ownership and administrative jurisdiction of Babusar Top have yet to be formally resolved.
Another significant dispute involves the Harban tribe of Kohistan and the Thor tribe of Diamer over an eight-kilometre stretch near the Diamer-Bhasha Dam. A clash over the territory in 2014 resulted in five deaths and 15 injuries. A 24-member jirga helped defuse the dispute in 2022.
Focus on Improved Air Connectivity
Besides boundary issues, the meeting also discussed improving air connectivity between Islamabad and Gilgit.
Currently, Pakistan International Airlines operates a 44-seat ATR aircraft on the route, while frequent weather-related cancellations and limited seating create difficulties for passengers.
Representatives of private airline South Air also discussed plans to introduce additional flights under a proposed joint-venture arrangement, with aircraft to be acquired on lease against a guarantee provided by the GB government.
The latest initiative is expected to improve relations between the two regions, facilitate development projects and provide a peaceful mechanism for resolving longstanding territorial disagreements.
