Two regions that have argued over their shared mountain boundary for decades have agreed to sit down and talk. Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) Chief Minister Amjad Hussain and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Governor Faisal Karim Kundi met in Islamabad on Sunday and agreed to begin negotiations on the disputes, which include Shandur Top, Babusar Top and land around the Diamer-Bhasha and Dassu dams.
How the talks will work
According to a statement from the GB chief minister’s secretariat, the boundary issues will first go to the chief secretaries of the two sides. They will then pass them to the political leadership of each region for decisions. The aim, the statement said, is to settle disputes involving villages along the boundary through mutual understanding rather than confrontation. An official who attended the meeting told Dawn that both sides want a peaceful settlement of problems that have more than once caused tension and violent clashes between communities.
The places in dispute
Shandur Top. The pass is known for the world’s highest polo ground, at about 12,500 feet. Both regions claim it, and the matter is before a boundary commission.
Babusar Top. The pass links Mansehra with Diamer through the Kaghan Valley. Its ownership and jurisdiction have not been settled by the federal government. The dispute has also reached the courts over land payments: the Peshawar High Court has told the National Highway Authority and the KP government to clear payments owed to landowners whose property was acquired in 2001 for road widening.
Near the Diamer-Bhasha Dam. An eight-kilometre stretch is claimed by the Harban tribe of Kohistan and the Thor tribe of Diamer. A clash over it in 2014 killed five people and injured 15. A 24-member jirga defused the dispute in 2022, which opened the way to official demarcation and compensation for the affected Kohistan settlers.
Near the Dassu Dam. Questions of territory and ownership here, and at Babusar, continue to complicate relations between communities on either side.
Why dams make the question urgent
Big water projects raise the stakes of a border. Land acquisition, compensation, jobs and royalties all depend on which side of a line a village falls. We have covered the scale of that investment: the dams programme the federal government is financing and the milestone at Diamer-Bhasha. A settled boundary would make it easier to pay the right people and avoid disputes on the ground.
Flights to Gilgit
The two leaders also discussed air links between Gilgit and Islamabad, which have long been unreliable. PIA flies a 44-seat ATR on the route, and weather cancellations are frequent. That makes travel hard for patients, tourists and government officials. Gilgit’s airport cannot take larger aircraft.
Representatives of private airline South Air met the chief minister about more services. An official source said it was agreed that aircraft would be leased against a guarantee from the GB government, with South Air operating the flights under a joint venture. The aim is to put weather-capable aircraft on the route.
Why it matters
Border disputes in mountain valleys are rarely just about maps. They touch grazing rights, forests, roads and compensation, and in this case, tribal rivalries that have turned violent before. An agreed process, even a slow one, lowers the risk of another clash. Putting the chief secretaries in charge also moves the first stage of the work to officials.
The announcement leaves several things open. There is no timetable, no named negotiators and no word on how any agreement would bind the commission now looking at Shandur or the courts dealing with Babusar land payments. GB also goes to local government polls on December 5, as we reported, which could affect how politicians handle land questions in the weeks ahead.
What to watch
- When the two chief secretaries first meet and whether a deadline is set.
- Whether the commission on Shandur Top and the court cases on Babusar are folded into the talks.
- Whether the South Air lease and the GB government’s guarantee are finalised.
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