Editing Gilgit Agency (section)

{{Short description|Agency of the British Indian Empire & later Pakistan}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox former subdivision
| native_name            = {{native name|ur|گلگت ایجنسی}}
| conventional_long_name = Gilgit Agency
| common_name            = Gilgit Agency
| nation                 = [[Indian Empire|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                     = Jammu and Kashmir (princely state)
| s1                     = Gilgit-Baltistan{{!}}Northern Areas
| flag_p1                = Flag of the Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir (1846-1936).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]] (1946)
| 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''' ({{langx|ur|{{Script/Nastaliq|گلگت ایجنسی|ur}}}}) was an [[Agencies of British India|agency]] within the [[British Indian Empire]]. It encompassed Hunza, Nagar and the governorships of Yasin, Koh Ghizer, Ishkoman, Punial and the tribal areas of Gor, Darel, Tangir, the district of Chilas and  the Gilgit tehsil of the [[princely state]] of [[Jammu and Kashmir (princely state)|Jammu and Kashmir.]]The primary objective of establishing the Gilgit Agency was to bolster and fortify these regions, particularly in the context of concerns about Russian encroachment in the area.{{Citation needed|date=September 2023}} The agency headquarters was based in the town of [[Gilgit]], within the [[Gilgit District|Gilgit tehsil]] 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=}}

Gilgit Agency 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]]).

An [[Officer on Special Duty]] was established in 1877 in the town of Gilgit till 1882 to monitor the Baroghil and Ishkoman passes. After seven years a permanent [[Political officer (British Empire)|Political Agent]] in 1889 was established.{{Citation needed|date=September 2023}} In 1935, the Gilgit tehsil of the princely state was leased from the Maharaja, which also came under the administration of the Political Agent. The [[Astore District|Astore tehsil]] continued to be under the Maharaja's administration. On 1st July 1947, shortly before the [[partition of India]], not only was the Gilgit Leased Area retroceded to the Maharaja but the whole of Gilgit Agency was handed over to the Dogras. 

The [[Gilgit Scouts]] who were hopeful of Jammu & Kashmir state acceding to Pakistan were shocked at the news of the [[Instrument of Accession (Jammu and Kashmir)|accession]] of Jammu and Kashmir to India on 26 October 1947. The Gilgit Scouts ably led by Major William Brown, took Brigadier Gansara Singh into protective custody on 1st November 1947 and raised the Pakistan flag on 2nd November in Gilgit. Hunza and Nagar states had by then already sent in their accession letters addressed to the Quaid-e-Azam. Pakistan sent in a Political Agent on 16th November who took over the administration of the areas thereafter.{{sfnp|Snedden, Understanding Kashmir and Kashmiris|2015}}{{sfnp|Bangash, Three Forgotten Accesions|2010}}

Under the Pakistani administration, the Gilgit, Astore, and Skardu ([[Baltistan]]) tehsils, as well as the principalties previously under the agency, were clubbed together under the name of "Gilgit Agency". The unit remained in existence till 1974, after which it was abolished by the Pakistani Prime Minister [[Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto]] and turned into the [[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>

While India continues to claim the entire region of Gilgit-Baltistan as part of the union territory of [[Ladakh]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.surveyofindia.gov.in/files/POL_MAP_4M_ENG_WTR.jpg|title=Political Map of India}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|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 |website=The Times of India|date=2 November 2019 }}</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> Pakistan's stand is that a plebiscite as per UN resolution be held in the territories referred to as Jammu & Kashmir.