Gilgit-Baltistan as a Pakistani Providence?

Pakistan wants to declare Gilgit-Baltistan as its 5^th Province. Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) is an administrative territory of Pakistan as of now. As per India, two Pakistani administrative territories of Pakistan - GB & Azad Kashmir are part of Indian State of “Jammu & Kashmir” and Pakistan has illegally occupied it since 1947. Both the territories are called “Pakistan Occupied Kashmir” (POK) in India. GB was part of princely state of Jammu & Kashmir. In 1947 Major William Brown a British commander of Gilgit Socuts (J&K state parliamentary force) revolted against Maharaja and merged the entire area with Pakistan. Many Indians believe that this was a conspiracy by outgoing British Governments. The area of GB is 72,971 square KM (larger than Ireland & equivalent to Indian state of Assam).

But can Pakistan declare it as its 5^th Province? Yes, it can make GB a full providence as it controls the whole area. And India will oppose this move at bilateral level or in multi-lateral forums but India is unlikely to go to war on this issue. 46 billion USD project CPEC (China Pakistan Economic Corridor) passes through this area. There has been a constant pressure from Chinese side to elevate the status of GB as a normal province. Many residents of GB has been demanding full province status for years. Pakistan has been treating GB as a virtual colony. GB residents have not been give full rights whereas its resources are utilized by Pakistan. Even hardly any GB specific projects are included in CPEC apart from normal infrastructure projects for the Chines vehicles.  

Another interesting fact is that GB is a Shia dominated area & it will become the only Shia dominated Pakistani province. Many Pakistanis will not lake a Shia province in Sunni dominated Pakistan. And on top of that GB residents will get an equal right (even on paper) with Punjabis. Pakistan may have to spare water from Indus River to GB and grant additional funds from central budget. Till now, Pakistan considers Jammu & Kashmir as a disputed area and wants India to adopt to UN General Assembly resolution on 1948 (a debatable matter which I am not going in details here). But if Pakistan declares a part of J&K as its providence then technically it is accepting that POK is part of Pakistan and not part of J&K. It may weaken its stand on Kashmir as India may declare pro India Jammu & Ladakh as new states or how can referendum be held in GB etc.

India & Pakistan has governed its Kashmir in different ways. India has given full status to J&K and in fact the states has many extra safeguards & rights than a normal Indian state. But POK residents don’t have equal rights like a normal Pakistanis. Also many pro Pakistani organizations like JKLF, Hurriyat Conference etc. may not like to see GB as a full Pakistani providence. India will not accept GB as a full province as POK is our Land (as per constitution). Even though China is encouraging Pakistan to take us this step, it can’t openly back Pakistan on this matter. So Pakistan is caught between a rock and a hard place over status of GB.