Skardu, (PaJK): In a move that raises critical questions about sovereignty and self-determination, a three-day investment conference was recently organized in China under the “Border Trade Zone China” initiative, with participation from business representatives of Gilgit-Baltistan, a region internationally recognized as part of the disputed territory of Jammu & Kashmir.
Delegations from all district chambers of commerce in Gilgit-Baltistan took part, including high-level officials from the region’s business community and provincial ministers. The event, held under the banner of economic cooperation, facilitated direct engagement between Chinese investors and local business leaders. According to reports, several billion-rupee agreements were signed, setting the stage for Chinese investment in a range of sectors within GB.
The conference also emphasized China’s intention to provide tax exemptions for import-export activities conducted by communities residing along the border, part of a broader strategy to expand Chinese economic influence through the “Border Trade Zone Company.” Chinese authorities pledged to provide accommodation and commercial space for GB traders in Tashkurgan, signaling a long-term plan for deepening bilateral economic ties.
While economic development is welcome in any region suffering from neglect, the context of this initiative cannot be ignored. Gilgit-Baltistan, like the rest of Jammu & Kashmir, remains a territory under dispute as per multiple United Nations Security Council resolutions. Any foreign investment or bilateral agreement involving GB — without the consent and participation of the people of Jammu & Kashmir — risks further entrenching foreign control and undermining the region’s right to self-determination.
Leaders from the Skardu Chamber of Commerce, including President Ashraf Hussain and businessman Abbas Numberdar, expressed hope that the partnership will bring economic growth to the region. However, grassroots voices and international observers alike have consistently raised concerns about external investments being used as tools of political influence in territories where the local population has no say in governance or international agreements.
It was also announced that four annual meetings between Chinese investors and GB chambers will be held — two in China and two within Gilgit-Baltistan — with the next summit scheduled in Hunza. These developments, while framed as economic cooperation, come amid increasing militarization and political marginalization in the region.
As an independent platform committed to the just and democratic resolution of the Kashmir dispute, we remind the international community that Gilgit-Baltistan is not a bargaining chip nor a frontier for proxy economic expansion. The region’s people must be the primary decision-makers in determining their political and economic future free from coercion, occupation, or economic manipulation.