Gilgit Baltistan: Between Hope and Despair

The monograph attempts to present an exhaustive account on Gilgit Baltistan (part of the erstwhile princely state of Jammu and Kashmir and now part of Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK)) by contextualising it within the larger discourse on Kashmir. The study delves into all aspects of Gilgit Baltistan – the political issues, the socio-economic as well as the geopolitical and international factors. The study by and large takes a neutral/balanced perspective on these aspects. A separate chapter is devoted to the Indian perspective on Gilgit Baltistan and traces it from the time of independence. Apart from policy formulations for India vis-à-vis Gilgit Baltistan, the monograph ends by highlighting certain key points that will be crucial in determining the future course of the region.

About the Author

Dr. Priyanka Singh is Associate Fellow at the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA), New Delhi. She holds an Honours Ddegree in Political science from Lady Shri Ram College for Women, University of Delhi and a PhD from University of Lucknow. Her Ph.D thesis was titled “Indo-US Relations in the Last Decade – 1990-2000: Shifting Paradigms”. Her broader research interests include Indo-US relations and US engagement in Pakistan, though currently she is focusing on Pakistan occupied Kashmir. She joined IDSA in 2007 and is associated with the South Asia Centre. She is also part of the project team on Pakistan Occupied Kashmir. She compiles and edits IDSA’s monthly newsletter, PoK News Digest. She is the co-editor of “Proliferation and the Emerging Nuclear Order in the Twenty First Century” (Academic Foundation, New Delhi, 2009) and “Saving Afghanistan,” (Academic Foundation, New Delhi, 2009). She was a contributing author to IDSA’s project report titled “Pakistan occupied ashmir: Changing the Discourse” (May 2011). Her select publications include: “The Diamer Bhasha Dam in Gilgit Baltistan: Concerns for India”, Strategic Analysis, Volume 36 (4) July/August 2012, “Growing American Interest in Pakistan occupied Kashmir”, IDSA Strategic Comment, July 17, 2012 and “Pakistan occupied Kashmir on the Periphery”, Strategic Analysis, Volume 37(1) Jan/Feb 2013.

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