Lease of Gilgit Baltistan and Role of British Empire 1935

Lease of Gilgit Baltistan and Role of British Empire 1935

On March 29, 1935, the British government took possession of Gilgit Agency from the state government, through a lease agreement for 60 years. The British feared of the Soviet expansionist moves, and therefore wanted to have direct control in the region. During this period the state flag remained hoisted over residency along with the Union Jack. However by August 1, 1947, the areas were returned to the state government, because the British had decided partitioning of the Indian sub-continent. Colonel Bacon who was a Political Agent of Gilgit met Major Brown and told him that Lord Mountbatten has decided to return areas of Gilgit Baltistan to the Ruler of Jammu and Kashmir on 1st August 1947. It was possible that the Maharaja could have appointed his own man as a head of Gilgit Scouts, but the British wanted to ensure that their trusted man is in control of the Gilgit Scouts the only military force in the region.

Major Brown in his book ‘The Gilgit Rebellion’ notes, and I quote: ‘All Gilgit wanted was the peace and security afforded under the Pax Britannica and the method by which this could have been continued, despite partition, would have been to have made the Gilgit Agency an agency of the North West Frontier Province, directly under The Governor. This would have ensured continuity in administration, peace, security, and unity: infertile ground for Soviet seed. My duty was obvious. I must return to Gilgit and lead, advice and help the people over the transition period.’ Unquote

(Source: Independence of Gilgit Baltistan, by Ghulam Rasool, page 133)

On 30th October 1947, Colonel Bacon, after his farewell party gave briefing to Major

Brown, and concluded: “I give the Kashmir Administration three months in Gilgit. Then something will happen.”

(Source: Independence of Gilgit Baltistan, by Ghulam Rasool, page 124)

That something happened as predicted or planned; and sequence of events is very important in this. The Pakistani government, which included the British officials on key posts, hoped that the Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir would join Pakistan, but once they realized that the Maharaja was not prepared to accede to Pakistan they managed the Tribal Invasion.