Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan agree to settle old boundary disputes

In a meeting held in Islamabad on Sunday, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi and Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Minister Amjad Hussain agreed to initiate negotiations to resolve decades-old territorial disputes between their respective regions. The contentious areas include Shandur Top, Babusar Top, and regions surrounding the Diamer-Bhasha and Dassu dams.

The agreement, as stated by the GB Chief Minister’s Secretariat, calls for boundary disputes to be handled by the chief secretaries of the two regions, with final decisions to be made by their respective political leadership.

The meeting also touched upon improving air connectivity between Gilgit and Islamabad, a challenge faced by passengers due to limited flight operations and frequent cancellations. Presently, Pakistan International Airlines operates a 44-seat ATR aircraft on the Islamabad-Gilgit route, but its restricted seating capacity and susceptibility to weather-related cancellations have made air travel difficult for patients, tourists, and government officials.

Representatives of the private airline, South Air, discussed the possibility of introducing additional air services on a lease basis, with the GB government providing a guarantee and South Air operating the flights under a joint-venture arrangement. This proposed service aims to bring weather-compliant aircraft on the Islamabad-Gilgit route, potentially improving travel reliability for residents and visitors.