Pak declaring Gilgit-Baltistan as fifth province 'unacceptable': JK Kashmir Forum

Activists from the JK Kashmir Forum took to the street to protest against Islamabad's recent announcement to declare Gilgit-Baltistan, a disputed area in Pakistan's northernmost administrative territory that borders the disputed Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, as its fifth province.

"Pakistan cannot make Gilgit-Baltistan as fifth province, we are against it," said forum leader Shoib Lone.

"Jammu and Kashmir has its own importance as per the historical point of view, but unfortunately large portions of land have been grabbed by China and Pakistan. So we are here to spread the awareness that it is our territory and we will not allow anyone to play the dirty politics with our state," Lone said, as the forum activists gathered at tourist reception center (TRC) and raised their voices against Pakistan.

Earlier this month, Pakistan's Minister for Inter-Provincial Coordination Riaz Hussain Pirzada had told Geo TV that a committee headed by Advisor of Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz had proposed giving the status of a province to Gilgit-Baltistan.

However, India has flatly rejected this move claiming that Gilgit-Baltistan is an integral part of its territory.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj had said the Parliament the Parliament has already passed a resolution declaring the entire Jammu and Kashmir as an integral part of India.

"One should not doubt the intention and policies of the NDA Government with regard to Jammu and Kashmir," she added.

The area is significant to both Pakistan and China as the multi-billion CPEC passes through the region.