Eldartpy at 23:51, 26 March 2026

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CleanupBot II: Removed empty portal template using script

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← Older revision		Revision as of 04:43, 14 August 2023
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	== See also ==		== See also ==
	~~{{Portal\|History}}~~
	* [[Baltistan]]		* [[Baltistan]]
	* [[Gilgit]]		* [[Gilgit]]

>Ari T. Benchaim: Undid revision 1031731648 by 117.254.143.14 (talk)

2021-07-03T09:23:03Z

Undid revision 1031731648 by 117.254.143.14 (talk)

New page

{{Short description|Agency of the British Raj}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}}
{{Infobox former subdivision
|native_name =
|conventional_long_name =Gilgit Agency
|common_name = Gilgit Agency
|nation = [[British India]]<br/> [[Pakistan]]
|status_text = [[Agencies of British India|Agency]]
|era =
|year_start = 1889
|date_start =
|event_start = [[Political officer (British Empire)|British Political agent]]
|event2 = Gilgit Wazarat leased
|date_event2 = 26 March 1935
|event3 = Lease terminated
|date_event3 = 30 July 1947
|event4 = Gilgit rebellion
|date_event4 = 1 November 1947
|event5 = [[Political officer (British Empire)|Pakistani Political agent]]
|date_event5 = 19 November 1947
|year_end = 1974
|event_end= Merged into [[Gilgit-Baltistan|Northern Areas]]
|p1 =
|s1 =
|flag_p1 = British Raj Red Ensign.svg
|flag_p2 = British Raj Red Ensign.svg
|flag_s1 = Flag of Pakistan.svg
|image_flag =
|image_coat =
|image_map = Jammu and Kashmir in 1946 map of India by National Geographic.jpg
|image_map_caption = The Gilgit Agency at the northern periphery of [[Jammu and Kashmir (princely state)|Jammu and Kashmir]] under the [[British Raj]] (1946 map)
|stat_area1 =
|stat_year1 =
|stat_pop1 =
|footnotes = [https://archive.org/stream/cu31924007471935/cu31924007471935_djvu.txt "A collection of treaties, engagements, and sunnuds relating to India and neighbouring countries"]
}}

The '''Gilgit Agency''' ({{lang-ur|{{Script/Nastaliq|گلگت ایجنسی|ur}}}}) was an [[Agencies of British India|agency]] established by the [[British Indian Empire]] over the subsidiary states of the princely state of [[Jammu and Kashmir (princely state)|Jammu and Kashmir]] at its northern periphery, mainly with the objective of strengthening these territories against Russian encroachment. The subsidiary states included [[Hunza (princely state)|Hunza]], [[Nagar (princely state)|Nagar]] and other states in the present day districts of [[Gupis–Yasin District|Gupis-Yasin]], [[Ghizer District (2019–)|Ghizer]], [[Darel District|Darel]], [[Tangir District|Tangir]] and [[Diamer District|Diamer]]. The agency was based in the town of [[Gilgit]], which was itself under the direct administration of the Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir.{{Efn|British agencies were generally based in British-ruled territories even though they controlled native-ruled states. In this instance, the Maharaja was persuaded to allow a base in his territory.|name=|group=}}

An [[Officer on Special Duty]] was established in 1877 in the town of Gilgit, upgraded to a permanent [[Political officer (British Empire)|Political Agent]] in 1889. In 1935, the [[Gilgit District|Gilgit tehsil]] of the princely state was leased from the Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir, which also came under the administration of the Political Agent. The [[Astore District|Astore tehsil]] continued to be under the Maharaja's administration. In July 1947, shortly before the independence of India and Pakistan, the Gilgit Leased Area was returned to the Maharaja. However, the [[Gilgit Scouts]] rebelled on 1 November 1947 after the accession of Jammu and Kashmir to India, and Pakistan took over the administration of the areas soon thereafter.{{sfnp|Snedden, Understanding Kashmir and Kashmiris|2015}}{{sfnp|Bangash, Three Forgotten Accesions|2010}}

Under Pakistani administration, the Gilgit district, the Astore district as well as the subsidiary states were clubbed together under the name the "Gilgit Agency". The unit remained in existence till about 1974, when the it was abolished by the Pakistani Prime Minister [[Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto]] and made part of [[Federally Administered Northern Areas]] (later renamed to "Gilgit-Baltistan").<ref name="Ali2019">{{citation |last=Ali |first=Nosheen |title=Delusional States |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mi-ZDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA33 |date=2019 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=978-1-108-49744-2 |pages=33–34}}</ref>

India continues to claim the entire region of Gilgit-Baltistan as part of the former princely state of Jammu and Kashmir.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.surveyofindia.gov.in/files/POL_MAP_4M_ENG_WTR.jpg|title=Political Map of India}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/govt-releases-new-political-map-of-india-showing-uts-of-jk-ladakh/articleshow/71867468.cms|title=Govt releases new political map of India showing UTs of J&K, Ladakh | India News - Times of India|website=The Times of India}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.scconline.com/blog/post/2019/11/02/jammu-and-kashmir-reorganisation-removal-of-difficulties-second-order-2019/|title=J&K Reorganisation (Removal of Difficulties) Second Order, 2019 -- [Territory of Leh district shall constitute, Gilgit, Gilgit Wazarat, Chilas, Tribal territory & 'Leh & Ladakh' except present territory of Kargil]|date=2 November 2019}}</ref>

== Area and borders ==
[[File:Gilgit-Baltistan map with tehsils labelled.png|thumb|right|300px|Present day Gilgit-Baltistan]]

The Gilgit Agency was a [[Agencies of British India|political agency]] for keeping control of the [[princely state|subsidiary states]] of [[Jammu and Kashmir (princely state)|Jammu and Kashmir]] at the northern frontier of India. The areas under the Agency consisted of
* the state of [[Chilas]] (present day [[Diamer District]])
* the territories of [[Darel District|Darel]] and [[Tangir District|Tangir]] (now their own districts)
* [[Koh-i-Ghizer|Kuh-Ghizar]] and [[Yasin State|Yasin]] regions (present day [[Gupis–Yasin District|Gupis–Yasin]] district)
* [[Punial State|Punial]] and [[Ishkoman Valley|Ishkoman]] regions (present day [[Ghizer District (2019–)|Ghizer]] district)
* the states of [[Hunza State|Hunza]] and [[Nagar State|Nagar]] (now their own districts)

All these states had their own rulers or systems of administration; the Agency provided supervision under a British Political Agent.{{sfnp|Snedden, Understanding Kashmir and Kashmiris|2015|loc=Appendix V}}{{sfnp|Bangash, Three Forgotten Accesions|2010|p=122}}

Until 1935, [[Gilgit District|Gilgit]] and [[Astore District|Astore]] tehsils (now districts) comprised the Gilgit ''wazarat'' of Jammu and Kashmir with its own governor (''wazir-e-wazarat''), who was also based at Gilgit. However, the Political Agent did exercise some control over the ''wazarat's'' affairs, leading to a system of dual rule and causing frictions.{{sfnp|Snedden, Understanding Kashmir and Kashmiris|2015|loc=Appendix V}}{{sfnp|Bangash, Three Forgotten Accesions|2010|p=122}}

In 1935, the British leased the Gilgit tehsil as the "Gilgit Leased Area". It was administered directly by the Political Agent. The Astore tehsil became its own ''wazarat'', which was administered as part of the Kashmir province of Jammu and Kashmir.{{sfnp|Census of India, 1941, Volume XXII|1943|p=3}}

In 1941, the Gilgit Agency had a population of 77,000 and the Gilgit leased area had 23,000. Both the areas together came to be loosely referred to as the 'Gilgit Agency'. The administration of the Agency was carried out "on behalf of His Highness’ Government". The Political Agent communicated with the central government in New Delhi via [[Peshawar]] (the capital of the [[North-West Frontier Province (1901–1955)|North-West Frontier Province]]) (instead of the Resident in Kashmir, reportedly for "security" reasons).{{sfnp|Snedden, Understanding Kashmir and Kashmiris|2015|p=118}}

The administered area was bounded in the west by the [[Chitral (princely state)|Chitral State]], in the northwest by Afghanistan's [[Wakhan corridor]], in the east by [[Chinese Turkestan]], in the south by the Kashmir province, and in the southeast by the [[Ladakh]] ''wazarat'' of Jammu and Kashmir (which included [[Baltistan]]).

== Background ==
{{Princely states topics}}

During the [[First Anglo-Sikh War]], Maharaja Gulab Singh Jamwal (Dogra) helped the British Empire against the Sikhs.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Understanding Kashmir and Kashmiris|author=Christopher Snedden|page=67}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|title= The Jammu Fox: A Biography of Maharaja Gulab Singh of Kashmir, 1792-1857|author=Bawa, Satinder Singh |page=263}}</ref> After the defeat of the Sikh Empire, The [[Treaty of Lahore]] (9 March 1846) and the [[Treaty of Amritsar (1846)]] (16 March 1846) were signed. Under Article IV of The [[Treaty of Lahore]], signed between the Maharaja [[Duleep Singh]] and the British Empire, the Sikhs ceded the territories between the rivers Beas and Indus as war indemnity.

<blockquote>IV. The British Government having demanded from the Lahore State, as indemnification for the expenses of the war, in addition to the cession of territory described in Article 3, payment of one and half crore of Rupees, and the Lahore Government being unable to pay the whole of this sum at this time, or to give security satisfactory to the British Government for its eventual payment, the Maharajah cedes to the Honourable Company, in perpetual sovereignty, as equivalent for one crore of Rupees, all his forts, territories, rights and interests in the hill countries, which are situated between the Rivers Beas and Indus, including the Provinces of Cashmere and Hazarah.</blockquote>

In the north, these territories included [[Gilgit]] (the present [[Gilgit District]]), Astore (the present [[Astore District]]) and [[Chilas]] (presently a tehsil of the [[Diamir District]]).{{sfnp|Schofield, Kashmir in Conflict|2003|p=20}} By 1860, the three areas were constituted as a Gilgit ''wazarat'' (district), and the princely states of [[Hunza (princely state)|Hunza]] and [[Nagar (princely state)|Nagar]] to the northeast accepted the suzerainty of the Maharaja [[Ranbir Singh (Maharaja)|Ranbir Singh]].{{sfnp|Schofield, Kashmir in Conflict|2003|p=11}}

The Treaty of Amritsar did not constrain the Maharaja from establishing relationships with external powers, and he is said to have had dealings with Russia, Afghanistan and Chinese Turkestan. The British watched these developments with concern, especially in the light of Russian expansion in the north.{{sfnp|Schofield, Kashmir in Conflict|2003|p=12}}

== Establishment of the Agency ==
[[File:100 years of the RAF MOD 45163719.jpg|thumb|right|British [[Westland Wapiti]]s based at an airfield in Gilgit around 1930]]
Ranbir Singh's successor [[Partab Singh of Kashmir|Pratap Singh]] was a weak ruler. The British used the opportunity to establish an Agency in Gilgit in 1889, stationing a Political Agent who reported to the British Resident in Srinagar. The initial purpose of the Agency was to keep watch on the frontier and to restrain Hunza and Nagar from dealing with the Russians. Soon afterwards, the states of Hunza and Nagar were brought under the direct purview of the Gilgit Agency. The Jammu and Kashmir State Forces were stationed in a garrison at Gilgit, which were used by the Agency to keep order. They were replaced by a British-officered [[Gilgit Scouts]] in 1913.{{sfnp|Schofield, Kashmir in Conflict|2003|pp=12–13}}

Gradually, the princely states to the west of Gilgit ([[Punial State|Punial]], [[Yasin Valley|Yasin]], [[Ghizer Tehsil|Kuh-Ghizar]], [[Ishkoman Valley|Ishkoman]] and [[Chitral (princely state)|Chitral]]) were also brought under the purview of the Gilgit Agency. These areas were nominally under the suzerainty of Kashmir but were directly administered by the Agency.{{sfnp|Chohan, Gilgit Agency|1997|p=203}} Following a rebellion 1892, Chitral was transferred to the [[Malakand Agency]] in the [[Khyber Pakhtunkwa|Frontier Areas]].{{sfnp|Snedden, Understanding Kashmir and Kashmiris|2015|p=110}} The remaining areas remained under the control of the Gilgit Agency, which administered them through governors.{{sfnp|Chohan, Gilgit Agency|1997|p=203}}

== Inside Pakistan ==
The local rulers of these territories continued to appear at the Jammu and Kashmir [[Durbar (court)|Durbar]]s until 1947. Following the [[Partition of India]], on 31 October 1947 the British officer [[William Brown (British Army officer)|William Brown]] led the Gilgit Scouts in a coup against the Dogra governor of Gilgit which resulted in the region becoming part of [[Pakistan administered Kashmir]]. Most of the Ladakh Wazarat, including the Kargil area, became part of Indian-administered Kashmir. The [[Line of Control]] established at the end of the war is the current [[de facto]] border of India and Pakistan.

Initially, the Gilgit Agency was not absorbed into any of the provinces of [[West Pakistan]], but was ruled directly by political agents of the federal government of Pakistan. In 1963, Pakistan entered into a treaty with [[China]] to transfer part of the Gilgit Agency to China, (the [[Trans-Karakoram Tract]]), with the proviso that the settlement was subject to the final solution of the Kashmir dispute.

The dissolution of the province of West Pakistan in 1970 was accompanied by change of the name of the Gilgit Agency to the [[Northern Areas]]. In 1974, the states of [[Hunza (princely state)|Hunza]] and [[State of Nagar|Nagar]] and the independent valleys of Darel-Tangir, which had been de facto dependencies of Pakistan, were also incorporated into the Northern Areas.

Pakistan and India continue to dispute the sovereignty of the territories that had comprised the Gilgit Agency.

== See also ==
{{Portal|History}}
* [[Baltistan]]
* [[Gilgit]]
* [[Northern Areas, Pakistan|Northern Areas]]
* [[Kashmir]]
* [[Kashmir Conflict]]
* [[Trans-Karakoram Tract]]

== Notes ==
{{Notelist}}

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

== Bibliography ==
* {{citation |title=Census of India, 1941, Volume XXII – Jammu and Kashmir, Parts I & II |publisher=The Ranbir Government Press |year=1943 |url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.62753/page/n1 |ref={{sfnref|Census of India, 1941, Volume XXII|1943}}}}
* {{citation |first=Yaqoob Khan |last=Bangash |title=Three Forgotten Accessions: Gilgit, Hunza and Nagar |journal=The Journal of Imperial and Commonwealth History |volume=38 |number=1 |year=2010 |pages=117–143 |doi=10.1080/03086530903538269 |s2cid=159652497 |ref={{sfnref|Bangash, Three Forgotten Accesions|2010}}}}
* {{citation |last=Chohan |first=Amar Singh |title=Gilgit Agency 1877–1935, Second Reprint |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EqZFsNIuVWEC&pg=PA203 |date=1997 |publisher=Atlantic Publishers & Dist |isbn=978-81-7156-146-9 |ref={{sfnref|Chohan, Gilgit Agency|1997}}}}
* {{citation |first=Victoria |last=Schofield |author-link=Victoria Schofield |title=Kashmir in Conflict |publisher=I. B. Taurus & Co |location=London and New York |year=2003 |orig-year=First published in 2000 |isbn=1-86064-898-3 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rkTetMfI6QkC |ref={{sfnref|Schofield, Kashmir in Conflict|2003}}}}
* {{citation |last=Snedden |first=Christopher |author-link=Christopher Snedden |title=Understanding Kashmir and Kashmiris |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=s5KMCwAAQBAJ&pg=PA172 |year=2015 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-1-84904-342-7 |ref={{sfnref|Snedden, Understanding Kashmir and Kashmiris|2015}}}}

== External links ==

{{Regions and administrative territories of Kashmir}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Coord missing|Gilgit-Baltistan}}

[[Category:Regions of Gilgit-Baltistan]]
[[Category:Agencies of British India]]
[[Category:History of Gilgit Agency]]
[[Category:History of Gilgit-Baltistan]]
[[Category:1877 establishments in India]]

Gilgit Agency - Revision history

Eldartpy at 23:51, 26 March 2026

CleanupBot II: Removed empty portal template using script

>Ari T. Benchaim: Undid revision 1031731648 by 117.254.143.14 (talk)