No Threat to GB

Minister’s alleged kidnapping underlines regrouping of extremists

Gilgit Baltistan government has rejected rumors that the region is under threat from Taliban militants following rumours that a government minister, Abdullah Baig, was kidnapped by militants.

In an official statement, the government said reports of Mr Baig’s kidnapping – who is also a retired colonel of the Pakistan army – were a mere media hype and an attempt to disrupt the peace and tourism activities in the region.

Officials confirmed to BOL News, however, that local tribesmen did stage a peaceful protest for their demands, and that some of them were carrying arms. Also present in that protest were some former militants who had since laid down arms and returned to peaceful life.

“This is totally misleading information, blown out-of-proportion by non-professional social media which attracted both national and some international mainstream media,” GB’s Inspector-General of Police, Saeed Wazir, told Bol News. “Neither was the minister kidnapped nor made hostage. The footage of protesters shown on the media is that of locals holding a protest against a female sports gala recently held in their area.”

Asked about the presence of arms and some people who looked like Taliban militants in the footage, he said, “there were surely some miscreants among the protestors who had earlier revoked violence surrendered to the authorities. Their main demand during the protest was to be given first-hand information about the whereabouts of some ‘missing’ persons.”

He denied rumours that protesters had blocked the main tourist route of Babusar Top, saying the protest was held far away from the top, near the Naran-Chilas road, near a village called Thak. The minister, Abdullah Baig, had his car broken down and went down to negotiate with the protesters to clear the road. Many tourists were also stuck there, amid fears that militants may have taken over the Babusar Top. The minister’s negotiations took long, triggering rumours of kidnapping, he said.

Diamer region has long hosted sanctuaries of Islamist militants focused on Afghanistan as well as Kashmir, but there has been peace in recent years. The last incident of terrorist violence took place in 2018 when militants set ablaze 19 school buildings. Later, local elders stepped in to handle the situation, and were able to persuade the hardliners to give up arms and surrender to the authorities.

Some official sources confirmed to Bol News that the leader of the local Islamist hardliners, Maulvi Habib, and his followers who had earlier laid down arms, have been demanding release of their jailed comrades and information about those missing, whom they suspect are in official custody.

Some sources say that a wanted militant commander, Habibur Rahman, who is accused of killing 10 foreign climbers in Nanga Parbat area in 2013, was among the Thak village protesters along with his followers. They were there to press for the release of their comrades who were being held for their role in the Nanga Parbat massacre, they said.

Inspector-General Saeed Wazir denied, however, that any wanted criminals were present among the protesters. He said it took Minister Baig some time to persuade the protesters, but they did give in in the end and opened the road for traffic.

Bol News also spoke to the minister, Abdullah Baig, who said talks with protesters were held in a cordial atmosphere and they had tea twice during the negotiations. Asked about the protesters’ demands, he said, “I will not go into much detail, but yes, they are demanding release of some of the tribesmen who they say are peaceful individuals; some are in captivity, and some are missing.”

Local sources say the protesters are also demanding the implementation of Shariah Laws in the region and a ban on women’s sports, which they call un-Islamic and also violative of the local traditions.

However, Adullah Baig said the GB government would not allow anyone to disrupt the peaceful environment of the region. “Promotion of tourism is our ultimate aim, and we will go to any extent to ensure that tourism gets a boost, and to achieve that, the government will deal with all the issues to the satisfaction of the local population,” he said.