China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and its impact on Gilgit-Baltistan

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Abstract

Gilgit-Baltistan is one of the least known parts of South Asia. However, recently there has been an increased international interest for this area. Unfortunately, it is not due to positive trends, like economic prosperity, social development or free and fair political participation of the local population as part of a stabilised process of democratic consolidation. Instead the area is receiving international attention because of the increasing level of human rights violations, economic exploitation, and environmental degradation. Furthermore, the region came into the spotlight because of the growing influence of Jihadists forces, which contributed heavily to the rise of sectarian violence, despite or because of the ‘omnipresent’ Pakistani security apparatus. This is gaining significance since the territory of Gilgit-Baltistan determines an essential part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a multimillion dollar development project which is heralded as an ‘game changer’ for Pakistan and the whole region.