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Keeping pace with changing time
By Dj mathal The world is changing fast and there is nothing that does not undergoes a change. When we look around, we see everything like weather and even human thought undergoing changes. Everything has to change in order to keep pace with time. Similarly, when we look at the history of the world, we see big nations and super powers undergoing massive changes. The nations which were once considered super have lost their status with the passage of time. Such countries bring changes in their laws in accordance to their needs and demand of time. During the last over one and a half centuries, advancement in science and technology has completely changed the shape of the world and the man is trying to set his foot on mars. In short, the world is still undergoing changes after going through many millions years of its turbulent life. Though often we talk of the world entering an era of modernity after dark ages, there is the imperialist minded man who while taking benefit of the shrinking world still tries to subjugate the whole world and rule it despite the claims that the days of slavery have now become history. This very human being, on the back of brutal force, has started occupying the land, economic property, civilizations and cultures and traditions of the poor. This cruel being also wants to snatch the very right of existence of the man - even the right to breathe. Today it has become clear that America along with its allies and other imperialist forces wants to make the whole world subservient to a unipolar world controlled by itself. To achieve its imperialist design, America is using the small and weak nations by dictating their corrupt leaders. Besides, America is also continuing building a web of conspiracies around such countries which it considers can challenge its hegemony in order to render them unable to stand up. Look at Asia where on the one hand there are talks of greater Asia and on the other there are conspiracies of disintegrating the countries of the subcontinent into greater Punjab, greater Sindh, greater Balochistan, greater Afghania. Today we are hearing slogans like greater Punjab; there is also cry of Sindhu Desh in Meran valley and maps of greater Balochistan are out in the world. Besides, in connivance with Afghanistan, the imperialist powers are planning to form Pakhtunkhwa. In this milieu, there are also talks of injustices in the Seraki belt and plans to separate it from the Punjab. Besides, there are still the slogans of Kashmir baney ga Pakistan as well as independent Kashmir.It is strange that the brave people of Gilgit-Baltistan who won freedom from Dogra Raj through sheer bravery have become devoid of thinking power. It seems that the whole nation has become addicted to opium and is in slumber. Gilgit-Baltistan is called the roof of the world and its gateway as it has borders with Pakistan, India, China and the Central Asian countries. In terms of defence, Gilgit-Baltistan is considered as a jugular vein of Pakistan. By 2012 when the expansion of Karakoram Highway completes, the region will become a centre of world trade. Already China earns billions of dollars through trade via the strategic highway which will increase many folds after completion of the expansion work. As a result, Chinese goods which have already flooded international markets will further challenge monopoly of western trade especially US mercantile. This is a factor about Chinese economic rise which always worries the US. Therefore, a great game involving the US, UK, Japan and other G-7 countries has been initiated in the region which saw a new twist after 9/11. The great game has two players: on the one side there are the US, Europe and India while on the other China and the Pakistani establishment.The US and its allies want to check China's increasing economic and political influence in the region and bury its economy in the glaciers of Gilgit-Baltistan. On the other hand, China wants to open up to the whole world with more economic vigor by reaching the Gwadar Port through the Karakoram Highway with the help of Pakistan.It is ironic that the new generation of those brave men who won freedom through their bravery looks completely overwhelmed and in slumber devoid of safeguarding their own culture, traditions and identity. On the one hand slogans of Pakistan zindabad are chanted even for a pittance while on the other there are demands for internal autonomy. It seems that like Balochistan lava is also heating up in this region too. But if the people of Gilgit-Baltistan are given the rights to run their affairs in accordance with their wishes, this region may be saved from turning another Balochistan. These rights include opportunities to protect and promote their own culture, language, history, proper education, freedom of expression and speech, hold on trade opportunities, speedy justice and laws to promote peace in accordance with the local traditions. These are some of the basic facts which needed to be comprehended by the people of the region.In the current global village scenario, if the people of Gilgit-Baltistan failed to extricate themselves from the darkness of ignorance, the great game going on in their surrounding will terminate their very existence. If the people did not prepare themselves for the challenges keeping pace with the changing circumstances, the demographic reality in the region would fast change ultimately causing a change in the geography of the region.The leadership of the region should also change itself with the changing waves of time otherwise there will be neither the identity of the region nor its civilization, cultures will last leading to destruction not only for this region but also for Pakistan as a whole.
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