Shia-Sunni Conflict in Gilgit-Baltistan: Past and Future Outlook 

Peace, harmony, and brotherhood are the marks of humanity. They are the heart of every religion. Before the national and international geopolitical developments, the people of the region coexisted harmoniously. They respected each other’s beliefs and even participated in each other’s religious activities. The people also connected through intermarriages. Gilgit-Baltistan which was once considered a cradle of peace turned out to be a cradle of violence.  Unfortunately, a peaceful city has now become a breeding ground for sectarian conflicts. The region is experiencing growing sectarian violence between two major religious sects Shia and Sunni. The conflict has a long history. Let us have a glimpse of the history.

History reveals that the tensions began in the 1980s, especially after the construction of the Karakorum Highway. The first sectarian violence broke out in 1983. In 1988, Jalalabad tragedy took place. A rumor alleging a Sunni massacre at the hands of Shias resulted in an attack by thousands of armed tribesmen killing nearly four hundred Shias. Another significant event took place with the murder of Agha Ziauddin Rizvi, a prominent Shia leader in January 2005. Rizvi was assassinated by the Sunni sectarian group ‘Lashkar-e-Janghavi’, known for its anti-Shia ideology. An armed militant in the outskirts of Gilgit opened fire on a bus, killed one passenger, and injured seven others (The Dawn 2005).

In the year 2008, eighteen people were killed in sectarian violence, including the director of the agriculture department of Gilgit. However, 2009 again saw the incidents of sectarian violence. On April 20, 2009, Syed Asad Zaidi, the deputy speaker of the Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly was shot dead in Gilgit city. In 2012, sectarian violence surged again, triggered by a quick succession of well-planned killings targeting Shia travelers about sixty had been killed on the two routes that connect Gilgit-Baltistan with Islamabad. The peace in the region did not last long. Recently, on 20 August, 2023 the conflict has emerged again. Protests began when Sunni organizations launched a rally in Diamer and Chilas against a prominent Shia leader, Agha Syed Baqir Hussaini.

Sunni groups accused Hussaini of blasphemy and urged the authorities to register a First Information Report (FIR) against him. This led to the start of region-wide protests by the Shias. The protests in Gilgit and Skardu reflect the discontent and anger among Shia Muslims over the arrest of their religious leader. Demonstrators belonging to either group also staged sit-ins on different sections of the Karakoram Highway, causing temporary disruptions to traffic to and from Islamabad.  Many tourists remained stranded in Chilas with little food and water. Gilgit Baltistan government has deployed Rangers and GB Scouts to maintain law and order, as well as issuing directives to government employees to refrain from posting any incendiary content online. The situation gets better, but it does not ensure long-lasting peace in the region.

The root cause of the conflict is the Shia-Sunni split in Islam which has its roots in the early days of the religion and began with a disagreement over the rightful successor to the Prophet Muhammad. They are reluctant to accept the beliefs of each other. The actions of extremist groups and political conflicts have often exacerbated tensions between the two communities. Sectarian hatred and extremism fuel the conflict. Extremist elements have exploited the sectarian divide in Gilgit-Baltistan, using it as a breeding ground for radicalization. An unstable political system in the region has aggravated the sectarian violence further. All these had a cumulative effect on the promotion of sectarian violence in the region. This historical tension has been exacerbated by external influences, including those from neighboring countries such as Iran and Saudi Arabia, which have sought to influence the religious dynamics of the region.

When I talked about this issue with the students of both the sects. Their opinions and ideas filled me with hope and optimism about the future of Gilgit-Baltistan. Everyone wants peace and endeavours to bring harmony and prosperity to the region. The young educated minds are aware now. They look for a long-lasting solution to this problem. Education plays a vital role in fostering peace and harmony. It is the role of each individual to play his part as a citizen to contribute for bringing positivity to society. We have to make the people realize that must stop being misused by higher powers and authorities for their self-interests.

Instead of criticizing common people, we need to point out and talk about those policies that have divided communities along ethnic and sectarian lines in Gilgit-Baltistan. When you ask the opinion of the common people you become surprised to know that they do not have hatred towards each other, rather they live as brothers. They are not in favour of conflict and violence. It disturbs businesses and other daily life activities. To address this issue, it is essential for both the Pakistani government and the international community to work together to counter extremism in Gilgit-Baltistan. This includes countering the spread of extremist ideologies.