Amjad Ayub Mirza Demands Modi Intervene Over Rights Violations in Gilgit-Baltistan

Amjad Ayub Mirza, a prominent activist from Pakistan-administered Kashmir, has publicly appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take action against what he describes as systematic human rights violations in Gilgit-Baltistan. The appeal, made during remarks in September 2025, marks a rare direct call from a PoK voice to India's leadership on conditions in the disputed region.

Who Is Amjad Ayub Mirza?

Mirza has spent years documenting alleged abuses in Gilgit-Baltistan from his base in Indian-administered Kashmir. He frames himself as a voice for the indigenous Balti population, who he says have seen their political autonomy steadily eroded under Pakistani rule. His previous reports have cited satellite imagery analysis and interviews with displaced families to support claims about restricted movement and suppressed protests.

The activist's profile has grown since 2023, when he published a detailed account claiming Pakistan had deployed additional paramilitary units to the region following unrest in Skardu. That account drew attention from international human rights organisations, though Pakistan's government rejected the findings as fabricated.

The Gilgit-Baltistan Context

Gilgit-Baltistan sits at the heart of one of the world's most contested territories. The region of roughly 1.5 million people has been administered by Pakistan since 1947, but India formally claims it as part of Jammu and Kashmir. China also holds significant influence through investments tied to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.

The area has long operated under a semi-autonomous structure that gives the Pakistani military substantial authority over local affairs. Residents require special permits to travel between districts, and political parties advocating independence face regular restrictions. A 2024 report from the European Parliament noted that local assembly elections had been postponed three times since 2018 without official explanation.

Economic Strains on Local Communities

Beyond political concerns, economic pressures have fueled discontent. The Balti community points to what they describe as systematic exclusion from major infrastructure contracts. A 2023 audit by a private consultancy, commissioned by a coalition of local businesses, estimated that over 80% of CPEC-related construction positions went to workers from Punjab province rather than local residents.

The same report noted that tourism revenue — a potential lifeline for Skardu and Karimabad — fell by an estimated 30% in 2022-2023 due to permit restrictions and periodic lockdowns. Small business owners in the region told researchers they faced difficulties securing loans from Pakistani state banks, which they attributed to perceived bias against the predominantly Shia population.

What Mirza Is Demanding

In his appeal to Modi, Mirza called for three specific actions: international advocacy at the United Nations Human Rights Council, pressure for independent investigations into reported violations, and public support for Gilgit-Baltistan's indigenous political movements. He argued that New Delhi's silence would be interpreted as indifference by Islamabad.

Mirza also raised the issue of water rights. The region sits upstream on the Indus River system, and he alleged that Pakistani authorities had redirected irrigation channels away from Balti-majority villages without compensation. He cited data from a Lahore-based research institute suggesting that agricultural output in affected areas had declined by roughly 15% over five years.

India's Stakes in the Appeal

For New Delhi, Mirza's public appeal presents both an opportunity and a complication. India has long maintained that Pakistan's administration of parts of Kashmir is illegal, and activists like Mirza provide anecdotal support for that position. However, excessive engagement could undermine India's stated preference for quiet diplomacy on the Kashmir question.

Strategists in New Delhi see Gilgit-Baltistan's strategic location as a factor worth monitoring. The corridor connects Afghanistan and China, and any destabilisation would affect India's interests in its own administered Kashmir. Regional analysts note that the Indian Army has increased patrolling along the Line of Control in recent months, citing the need to prevent infiltration but stopping short of linking it directly to Gilgit-Baltistan events.

For Indian citizens living near the border, the appeal raises questions about what happens across the Line of Control. Families separated by the boundary have limited official channels for communication, and any escalation in Gilgit-Baltistan could affect those informal networks.

What Comes Next

The appeal enters a complicated landscape. Pakistan has previously expelled international journalists attempting to report from Gilgit-Baltistan, making independent verification difficult. The UN Human Rights Council has no mechanism to act on third-party appeals without a state referral, and India has not yet publicly responded to Mirza's specific requests.

What observers will watch for: whether Mirza receives a formal meeting with Indian officials, whether his claims gain traction in international media, and how Islamabad responds to what it will likely characterise as Indian interference. The coming months may test whether a regional activist can shift the political calculus on an issue that has remained largely frozen for decades.