Pakistan Eyes Constitutional Changes for Gilgit-Baltistan and Occupied Jammu and Kashmir Amid India-China Talks

Pakistan is considering changing the constitutional status of Gilgit-Baltistan and occupied Jammu and Kashmir. So far, these two parts have not received the status of a province according to the Constitution of Pakistan. Pakistan is preparing to bring a constitutional amendment bill to make PoK and Gilgit-Baltistan its fifth and sixth provinces. Notably, Pakistan is in such a hurry out of fear of the ongoing talks between India and China. CNN-News18 has quoted top government sources as saying that Pakistan is keenly watching the ongoing border talks between India and China and Beijing's extensive efforts to stabilize bilateral relations. Pakistan fears that any consensus between India and China could have an impact on its position on Jammu and Kashmir and its occupied territories. Pakistan is considering granting interim province status to PoK and Gilgit-Baltistan under a new constitutional framework. It could be done through a possible change in Article 28 of the Pakistani constitution.