Gilgit-baltistan to be elevated to full-fledged province: Pak

Pakistan has decided to elevate Gilgit-baltistan's status to that of a fullfledged province, a Pakistani media report on Thursday quoted a senior minister as saying.

India has clearly conveyed to Pakistan that the entire union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, including the areas of Gilgit and Baltistan, are an integral part of the country by virtue of its fully legal and irrevocable accession.

The Government of Pakistan or its judiciary has no locus standi on territories illegally and forcibly occupied by it. India completely rejects such actions and continued attempts to bring material changes in Pakistan occupied areas of the Indian territory of

Jammu & Kashmir. Instead, Pakistan should immediately vacate all areas under its illegal occupation, the Ministry of External Affairs said in May while protesting Islamabad's efforts to bring material change in Pakistan occupied territories.

According to a report in the Express Tribune, Minister for Kashmir and Gilgit-baltistan Affairs, Ali Amin Gandapur, on Wednesday said that Prime Minister Imran Khan would soon visit the region and make the formal announcement to elevate Gilgitbaltistan to the status of a full-fledged province with all constitutional rights.

Gandapur said Gilgitbaltistan would be given adequate representation on all constitutional bodies, including the National Assembly and the Senate.