Astore, Gilgit-Baltistan — A disturbing case of underage marriage and potential human trafficking has surfaced in Pakistan’s northern Gilgit-Baltistan region, where several underage girls have reportedly been married off to much older men. In a recent case, a man from the Thorar area of Rawalakot, Poonch — identified as Masoor, aged over 50 — has been arrested for marrying a minor girl from Astore district.

According to police sources, Musawar was taken into custody along with the girl’s father, brother, and the matchmaker after authorities discovered during a CNIC registration attempt that the bride was underage.

Musawar, who reportedly married the girl a month ago, admitted during a local media interview that he had spent more than 500,000 PKR on the marriage, including bride expenses and travel costs.

“If I had known she was a minor, I would never have married her. I’m ready to divorce her now,” he stated during his interview from the police station.

The girl’s father denied any involvement, while her brother, who allegedly accepted the payment, downplayed the issue by saying:

“I don’t see anything wrong in it — I have young children too.”

A Pattern of Abuse and Exploitation

The matchmaker claimed that the girl had previously been married to a drug addict in Chilas and was divorced after paying him ($1769) PKR 150,000. She stated that PKR 100,000 was given to the girl’s brother and that the match was arranged with full family consent.

Deputy Speaker of the Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly, Sadia Danish, condemned the practice of marrying off underage girls as a form of human trafficking, calling it a “moral, legal, and humanitarian crime.”

“This is a stain on our society, on parental responsibility, and on basic human dignity,” she said.
“When brothers — meant to protect their sisters — begin selling them for a few rupees, it is a moment of national shame. Such heartless and soulless individuals deserve no leniency.”

Sadia Danish also expressed deep concern over the increasing number of reports involving minor girls being trafficked from Astore to Punjab and Azad Kashmir under the guise of marriage.

According to unofficial sources, 70 to 80 such marriages have been reported, where elderly men were wed to teenage girls, many of which ended in immediate separation or have subjected the girls to ongoing abuse and violence.

In one shocking incident, a 13-year-old girl was allegedly sold twice under the pretense of marriage.

Mixed Reactions from the Community

While authorities and human rights advocates have strongly condemned the practice, some locals in Thorar, Rawalakot, have come forward in support of Masoor, describing him as a “simple and hardworking man” who faced financial hardship throughout his life.

Fatima Akhter, a local social worker, stated:

“Masoor has seen extreme poverty. He spent his life supporting his family and arranging his siblings’ weddings. He couldn’t marry at the socially expected age. He didn’t buy a bride; the money he paid went toward clothing and jewellery, as is customary.”

She added that Masoor was led to believe the girl was divorced and of legal age, and that he had even personally taken her to Gilgit for official ID documentation.

Human rights groups have repeatedly called for stronger enforcement of child protection laws, particularly in remote regions like Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir, where poverty and lack of education often enable such exploitative practices.

While the government has passed laws setting the minimum age of marriage, enforcement remains weak — especially in cross-regional cases involving vulnerable families.

The Azadi Times Web Desk | July 28, 2025: Muzaffarabad / Skardu – In a controversial move, the Government of Pakistan has banned road travel for Pakistani pilgrims to Iran and Iraq ahead of the annual Arbaeen pilgrimage, a decision that has sparked frustration and heartbreak among thousands of Shia pilgrims across the country, including those from Pakistan-administered Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan.

Pakistani Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi confirmed the ban on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), citing national security concerns and public safety as key reasons behind the decision. The announcement came after consultations with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Balochistan government, and national security agencies.

“This step has been taken purely in the interest of public safety and national security,” Naqvi posted.

However, the timing and suddenness of the announcement have triggered strong backlash, especially from pilgrims who had spent months preparing for the overland journey to the holy shrines in Karbala and Najaf.

“Our Bags Were Packed. Now Our Dreams Are Crushed.”

Ali Raza, a pilgrim from Sargodha, told The Azadi Times he had been saving for over a year to fulfill his dream of visiting the shrine of Imam Hussain during Arbaeen. He had packed his bags and was scheduled to leave in just two days.

“Now I’ll have to arrange at least an additional 300,000 rupees if I want to travel by air. Why wasn’t this decision announced earlier? Why couldn’t the government provide security instead of crushing our hopes?” he asked, visibly disheartened.

The alternative traveling by air is out of reach for many lower- and middle-income pilgrims. Overland travel via Balochistan was considered not only more economical but also spiritually fulfilling for thousands who preferred to walk in solidarity with fellow Shia Muslims from around the world.

Outcry from Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan

The backlash is particularly strong in Pakistan-administered Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan, where hundreds of caravans were already in final stages of preparation.

In Muzaffarabad, a group of young pilgrims gathered outside the press club to protest the government’s decision.

“We were ready to leave in two days,” said Muhammad Taqi, a pilgrim from Neelum Valley. “We come from remote areas, and flying isn’t an option for us. The government should have made alternative arrangements, not imposed a blanket ban.”

In Skardu, a volunteer organizing committee that had helped coordinate over 500 pilgrims across Baltistan expressed disappointment in a video statement:

“This ban has created uncertainty and deep grief. The route via Taftan is not new—it has been used for decades. Why can’t proper security measures be ensured instead of denying access to thousands of peaceful pilgrims?”

Security vs Religious Freedom

The Interior Ministry has defended the decision as a preventive measure amid intelligence reports about possible threats along the route through Balochistan. However, critics argue that the move reflects a failure in governance rather than a viable security strategy.

“It is the government’s responsibility to protect its citizens, not restrict their religious freedom,” said political analyst Dr. Nusrat Hussain. “This decision may deepen the trust deficit between the state and Shia communities, especially in sensitive regions like Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir.”

Arbaeen and Its Significance

Arbaeen, observed 40 days after Ashura, marks the martyrdom of Imam Hussain, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad. Millions of pilgrims from across the world travel to Iraq each year to take part in the largest peaceful gathering on earth.

For Pakistani Shias, especially those from underserved regions, the overland pilgrimage is not just a religious obligation—it’s a lifelong spiritual dream. This year’s restrictions are expected to affect more than 50,000 would-be pilgrims nationwide.

Key Takeaways

• Deadliest fighting in over a decade near disputed ancient temples.
• Historic border dispute over Preah Vihear and surrounding areas.
• Thai PM suspended after leaked phone call with Cambodia’s Hun Sen.
• Over 100,000 displaced; trade and energy ties disrupted.
• Regional mediation efforts underway, but no clear resolution in sight.

25 July 2025 – Bangkok/Phnom Penh: Fighting between Thai and Cambodian forces has intensified in recent days, with both sides trading artillery fire and conducting air operations near ancient Hindu temples located in a long-disputed border region.

The flare-up marks the worst violence between the Southeast Asian neighbours since 2011, raising fears of a prolonged conflict in the heart of mainland ASEAN.

What’s Happening?

On 24 July, Thai and Cambodian troops clashed near the Ta Muen Thom and Ta Muen Toch temples — sacred 11th-century sites located in a densely forested zone known as the Emerald Triangle, where Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos meet.

Military sources on both sides confirmed rocket fire, shelling, and drone surveillance in the area. Cambodia claims the Thai military violated its airspace and struck a forward outpost. Thailand accuses Cambodia of provoking conflict by reinforcing military presence near contested areas.

Casualty figures have not been independently verified, but local media report several soldiers killed and dozens wounded. Tens of thousands of civilians have fled surrounding districts, fearing a wider escalation.

A Dispute Rooted in Colonial Maps

The two countries have contested parts of their shared 800-km (500-mile) border for over a century. At the centre of the dispute is the 11th-century Preah Vihear Temple, which the International Court of Justice (ICJ) awarded to Cambodia in 1962. However, surrounding areas — especially buffer zones near temple complexes — remain disputed.

In 2013, the ICJ reaffirmed Cambodia’s sovereignty over the main temple, but Thailand rejected the ruling’s interpretation of adjacent territories. Since then, multiple flare-ups have occurred, most notably from 2008–2011, during and after the site’s controversial designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

A Leaked Phone Call Sparks Political Crisis in Thailand

The most recent escalation has been compounded by domestic political turmoil in Thailand. A leaked phone conversation between Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen ignited fierce debate.

In the recording, Paetongtarn is heard requesting leniency and referring to Hun Sen as “uncle,” a cultural term of respect. Critics in Bangkok viewed the exchange as “undermining national sovereignty.”

The fallout was swift: Paetongtarn was suspended from office, her coalition fractured, and Deputy PM Phumtham Wechayachai was appointed acting prime minister. Analysts say the controversy has weakened Thailand’s negotiating position and emboldened Cambodian officials.

Economic & Human Impact

Border towns like Poipet in Cambodia and Aranyaprathet in Thailand have seen a sharp drop in trade, tourism, and cross-border commerce. Cambodian authorities have banned Thai imports, while Thailand has closed key checkpoints and threatened to cut electricity and internet access to Cambodian provinces dependent on Thai infrastructure.

According to local humanitarian groups, over 100,000 civilians have been displaced. Schools and health centres along the border remain closed. Relief agencies warn of shortages in food, fuel, and clean water if fighting continues.

Regional and International Reactions

• The United Nations and ASEAN have urged both governments to “exercise maximum restraint.”
• Cambodia has submitted a new petition to the ICJ over four contested areas.
• Thailand continues to reject international mediation, instead calling for bilateral talks via the Joint Border Commission.

Neighbouring countries like Vietnam and Laos have tightened security along their borders. China and the United States have issued separate statements urging de-escalation.

What’s Driving the Conflict?

Experts cite a combination of historic grievances, political opportunism, and shifting regional power dynamics as key drivers of the renewed conflict:

• Territorial ambiguity due to colonial-era French maps.
• Personal rivalries between the Shinawatra and Hun political dynasties.
• Use of the conflict to divert attention from domestic crises, particularly in Bangkok.
• Rising military assertiveness across Southeast Asia.

What Happens Next?

With both countries locked in a blame game and diplomacy stalled, observers warn of a stalemate turning into a prolonged low-intensity conflict. ASEAN has offered to mediate, but no formal negotiations have been confirmed.

In the meantime, villagers continue to flee, border trade remains paralysed, and trust between two ASEAN founding members has eroded further.