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File:Shaheed Imam Bargah Shah Khurasan Jalalabad 1988.jpg

Shaheed Imam Bargah Shah Khurasan, Jalalabad village

In 1988 a revolt by the Shias of Gilgit was ruthlessly suppressed by the Zia-ul Haq regime in 1988.^[1] The Pakistan Army inducted Osama bin Laden to lead an armed group of tribals from Afghanistan and the North-West Frontier Province, into Gilgit and its surrounding areas to suppress the revolt.^[2]^[3] Osama bin Laden and his hordes massacred several hundred Shia civilians in Gilgit.^[4]

Background

Shias allege discrimination by the Pakistani government since 1948, claiming that Sunnis are given preference in business, official positions and administration of justice. On 5 July 1977, General Zia-ul-Haq led a coup d'etat.^[5] Zia-ul-Haq committed himself to establishing an Islamic state and enforcing sharia law.^[6] Zia's state sponsored Islamization increased sectarian divisions in Pakistan between Sunnis and Shias and between Deobandis and Barelvis.^[7] The Pakistani government leaned in favour of applying Sunni law to all.^[8] Attacks on Shias increased under the presidency of Zia-ul-Haq.^[9] Pakistan`s first major Shia-Sunni riots erupted in 1983 in Karachi during the Shia holiday of Muharram, leaving at least 60 people were killed. More Muharram disturbances followed over the next three years, spreading to Lahore and the Baluchistan region and leaving hundreds more dead. In July 1986, Sunnis and Shias, many of them armed with locally made automatic weapons, clashed in the northwestern town of Parachinar, where at least 200 died.^[10]

The first major anti-Shia riots in Gilgit broke out in May 1988 over the sighting of the moon, which ushers the end of the holy month of Ramadan. When Shias in Gilgit celebrated Eid al-Fitr, a group of extremist Sunnis, still fasting because their religious leaders had not announced the sighting of the moon, attacked them. This led to violent clashes between Sunnis and Shias. After a brief calm of nearly four days, the Pakistani military regime allegedly used certain militants along with local Sunnis to ‘teach a lesson’ to Shias, which led to hundreds of Shias and Sunnis being killed.^[11]

Raman states that there was a revolt in Gilgit by its Shia population, which called for a separate Shia state. The Pakistan Army then transported Osama Bin Laden and his horders to massacre hundreds of Shia civilians-men, women and children.^[1]^[4]

Conflict

The Herald, the monthly journal of the prestigious Dawn group of Karachi, wrote in its April 1990 issue:

In May 1988, low-intensity political rivalry and sectarian tension ignited into full-scale carnage as thousands of armed tribesmen from outside Gilgit district invaded Gilgit along the Karakoram Highway. Nobody stopped them. They destroyed crops and houses, lynched and burnt people to death in the villages around Gilgit town. The number of dead and injured was in the hundreds. But numbers alone tell nothing of the savagery of the invading hordes and the chilling impact it has left on these peaceful valleys.^[12]

Casualties

The exact number of casualties has been disputed. According to sources 150 to 400 people were killed while hundreds of others were injured.^[13] Unofficial reports gave a number of 700 Shias killed.^[14]

References

^ ^a ^b Raman, B (7 October 2003). "The Shia Anger". Outlook. Retrieved 31 December 2016. Because they have not forgotten what happened in 1988. Faced with a revolt by the Shias of the Northern Areas (Gilgit and Baltistan) of Jammu & Kashmir (J&K), under occupation by the Pakistan Army, for a separate Shia State called the Karakoram State, the Pakistan Army transported Osama bin Laden's tribal hordes into Gilgit and let them loose on the Shias. They went around massacring hundreds of Shias -- innocent men, women and children.
^ Raman, B (26 February 2003). "The Karachi Attack: The Kashmir Link". Rediiff News. Retrieved 31 December 2016. A revolt by the Shias of Gilgit was ruthlessly suppressed by the Zia-ul Haq regime in 1988, killing hundreds of Shias. An armed group of tribals from Afghanistan and the North-West Frontier Province, led by Osama bin Laden, was inducted by the Pakistan Army into Gilgit and adjoining areas to suppress the revolt.
^ Taimur, Shamil (12 October 2016). "This Muharram, Gilgit gives peace a chance". Herald. Retrieved 31 December 2016. This led to violent clashes between the two sects. In 1988, after a brief calm of nearly four days, the military regime allegedly used certain militants along with local Sunnis to 'teach a lesson' to Shias, which led to hundreds of Shias and Sunnis being killed.
^ ^a ^b International Organizations and The Rise of ISIL: Global Responses to Human Security Threats. Routledge. 2016. pp. 37–38. ISBN 9781315536088. Several hundred Shiite civilians in Gilgit, Pakistan, were massacred in 1988 by Osama Bin Laden and his Taliban fighters (Raman, 2004).
^ Grote, Rainer (2012). Constitutionalism in Islamic Countries: Between Upheaval and Continuity. Oxford University Press. p. 196. ISBN 9780199910168.
^ Kepel, Gilles (2002). Jihad: The Trail of Political Islam (2006 ed.). I.B.Tauris. pp. 100–101. Retrieved 5 December 2014.
^ Talbot, Ian (1998). Pakistan, a Modern History. NY: St.Martin's Press. p. 251. The state sponsored process of Islamisation dramatically increased sectarian divisions not only between Sunnis and Shia over the issue of the 1979 Zakat Ordinance, but also between Deobandis and Barelvis.
^ Broder, Jonathan (10 November 1987). "Sectarian Strife Threatens Pakistan`s Fragile Society". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 31 December 2016. But President Mohammad Zia ul-Haq`s program of Islamizing Pakistan`s political, economic and social life, begun in 1979, has proved to be a divisive wedge between Sunnis and Shiites. `The government says only one code of law-the Sunni code-applies to all, and the Shiites won`t agree to it,` says Ghufar Ahmed, a member of National Assembly from the Sunni fundamentalist Jamaat-i-Islami Party, an influential opposition group that has spearheaded the campaign to subordinate the state to Islam.
^ Jones, Brian H. (2010). Around Rakaposhi. Brian H Jones. ISBN 9780980810721. Many Shias in the region feel that they have been discriminated against since 1948. They claim that the Pakistani government continually gives preferences to Sunnis in business, in official positions, and in the administration of justice...The situation deteriorated sharply during the 1980s under the presidency of the tyrannical Zia-ul Haq when there were many attacks on the Shia population.
^ Broder, Jonathan (10 November 1987). "Sectarian Strife Threatens Pakistan`s Fragile Society". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 31 December 2016. Pakistan`s first major Shiite-Sunni riots erupted in 1983 in Karachi during the Shiite holiday of Muharram; at least 60 people were killed. More Muharram disturbances followed over the next three years, spreading to Lahore and the Baluchistan region and leaving hundreds more dead. Last July, Sunnis and Shiites, many of them armed with locally made automatic weapons, clashed in the northwestern town of Parachinar, where at least 200 died.
^ Shamil, Taimur (12 October 2016). "This Muharram, Gilgit gives peace a chance". Herald. Retrieved 31 December 2016. The first major sectarian clash occurred almost 30 years ago, after anti-Shia riots broke out in May 1988 over the sighting of the moon, which ushers the end of the holy month of Ramzan. When Shias in Gilgit celebrated Eidul Fitr, a group of extremist Sunnis, still fasting because their religious leaders had not announced the sighting of the moon, attacked them. This led to violent clashes between the two sects. In 1988, after a brief calm of nearly four days, the military regime allegedly used certain militants along with local Sunnis to 'teach a lesson' to Shias, which led to hundreds of Shias and Sunnis being killed.
^ Raman, B (14 September 2009). "The AQ Khan Proliferation Highway - III". Outlook. Retrieved 31 December 2016.
^ "Gilgit-Baltistan: Murder most Foul" by Ambreen Agha
^ Mahapatra, Debidatta Aurobinda; Shekhawat, Seema (2007). Kashmir Across Loc. Gyan Publishing House. p. 124. ISBN 9788121209687. As per unofficial reports, there was killing of about 700 Shias.

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-{{Multiple issues|{{more footnotes|date=March 2013}}{{POV|date=March 2013}}}}
 [[File:Shaheed Imam Bargah Shah Khurasan Jalalabad 1988.jpg|thumb|right|
 Shaheed Imam Bargah Shah Khurasan, [[Jalalabad village]] ]]
+In '''1988''' a revolt by the [[Shias]] of [[Gilgit District|Gilgit]] was ruthlessly suppressed by the [[Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq|Zia-ul Haq]] regime in 1988.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=http://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/the-shia-anger/221654|title=The Shia Anger|last=Raman|first=B|date=7 October 2003|work=Outlook|quote=Because they have not forgotten what happened in 1988. Faced with a revolt by the Shias of the Northern Areas (Gilgit and Baltistan) of Jammu & Kashmir (J&K), under occupation by the Pakistan Army, for a separate Shia State called the Karakoram State, the Pakistan Army transported Osama bin Laden's tribal hordes into Gilgit and let them loose on the Shias. They went around massacring hundreds of Shias -- innocent men, women and children.|access-date=31 December 2016|via=}}</ref> The [[Pakistan Army]] inducted [[Osama bin Laden]] to lead an armed group of tribals from [[Afghanistan]] and the [[Khyber Pakhtunkhwa|North-West Frontier Province]], into [[Gilgit District|Gilgit]] and its surrounding areas to suppress the revolt.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.rediff.com/news/2003/feb/26raman.htm|title=The Karachi Attack: The Kashmir Link|last=Raman|first=B|date=26 February 2003|work=Rediiff News|quote=A revolt by the Shias of Gilgit was ruthlessly suppressed by the Zia-ul Haq regime in 1988, killing hundreds of Shias. An armed group of tribals from Afghanistan and the North-West Frontier Province, led by Osama bin Laden, was inducted by the Pakistan Army into Gilgit and adjoining areas to suppress the revolt.|access-date=31 December 2016|via=}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://herald.dawn.com/news/1153556|title=This Muharram, Gilgit gives peace a chance|last=Taimur|first=Shamil|date=12 October 2016|work=Herald|quote=This led to violent clashes between the two sects. In 1988, after a brief calm of nearly four days, the military regime allegedly used certain militants along with local Sunnis to ‘teach a lesson’ to Shias, which led to hundreds of Shias and Sunnis being killed.|access-date=31 December 2016|via=}}</ref> [[Osama bin Laden]] and his hordes massacred several hundred [[Shia Islam|Shia]] civilians in [[Gilgit District|Gilgit]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com.au/books?id=PYquDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA37&dq=gilgit+shias+osama+bin+laden&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjBv5zhhJ7RAhVCI5QKHT5ED6cQ6AEIIzAC#v=onepage&q=gilgit%20shias%20osama%20bin%20laden&f=false|title=International Organizations and The Rise of ISIL: Global Responses to Human Security Threats|last=|first=|publisher=Routledge|year=2016|isbn=9781315536088|editor-last=|editor-first=|location=|pages=37-38|quote=Several hundred Shiite civilians in Gilgit, Pakistan, were massacred in 1988 by Osama Bin Laden and his Taliban fighters (Raman, 2004).|via=}}</ref>
-In '''1988 sectarian violence'''<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/1988/06/01/world/pakistanis-barely-fazed-by-shake-up.html?module=Search&mabReward=relbias%3As "Pakistanis Barely Fazed by Shake-Up"  By JOHN KIFNER, Special to the New York Times Published: June 1, 1988]</ref><ref>[http://www.dardistantimes.com/document/background-paper-sectarian-conflict-gilgit-baltistan"Background Paper-Sectarian Conflict in Gilgit-Baltistan" by Mr. Muhammad Feyyaz, Published on: May 2011]</ref> erupted between rival sects in [[Gilgit-Baltistan]], Pakistan, over a minor controversy on the sighting of the moon during the holy month of [[Ramadan]].<ref>[http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/publication/faultlines/volume20/Article4.htm "Sectarianism in Gilgit-Baltistan by Seema Shekhawat Faultlines: Volume 20, January 18, 2011]</ref> The controversy triggered riots between [[Shiites]] and [[Sunnis]], causing casualties on both sides. Due to rumors of a Sunni massacre in [[Gilgit]], the tribal army from other areas of [[Pakistan]] attacked Gilgit.
 ==Background==
+[[Shias]] allege discrimination by the Pakistani government since 1948, claiming that [[Sunni Islam|Sunnis]] are given preference in business, official positions and administration of justice. On 5 July 1977, [[Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq|General Zia-ul-Haq]] led a [[Coup d'état|coup d'etat]].<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com.au/books?id=PJBpAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA196&dq=1973+constitution+pakistan+islam&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjovf71oPDQAhXCn5QKHRBoDGIQ6AEINTAF#v=onepage&q=1973%20constitution%20pakistan%20islam&f=false|title=Constitutionalism in Islamic Countries: Between Upheaval and Continuity|last=Grote|first=Rainer|last2=|first2=|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=2012|isbn=9780199910168|location=|pages=196|quote=|via=}}</ref> [[Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq|Zia-ul-Haq]] committed himself to establishing an Islamic state and enforcing ''[[sharia]]'' law.<ref name="Kepel-1002">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OLvTNk75hUoC&pg=PA100&dq=Nizam-e-Mustafa+sharia&hl=en&sa=X&ei=VMqBVLDYCsSoyAS8yYKYBw&ved=0CC4Q6AEwAw#v=onepage&q=Nizam-e-Mustafa%20sharia&f=false|title=Jihad: The Trail of Political Islam|date=2002|publisher=I.B.Tauris|edition=2006|pages=100–101|last1=Kepel|first1=Gilles|accessdate=5 December 2014}}</ref> Zia's state sponsored Islamization increased sectarian divisions in Pakistan between [[Sunnis]] and [[Shias]] and between [[Deobandis]] and [[Barelvis]].<ref name="talbot-251-islamization2">{{cite book|title=Pakistan, a Modern History|date=1998|publisher=St.Martin's Press|location=NY|page=251|quote=The state sponsored process of Islamisation dramatically increased sectarian divisions not only between [[Sunni]]s and [[Shia]] over the issue of the 1979 ''Zakat'' Ordinance, but also between [[Deobandi]]s and [[Barelvi]]s.|last1=Talbot|first1=Ian}}</ref> The Pakistani government leaned in favour of applying [[Sunni Islam|Sunni]] law to all.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1987-11-10/news/8703240490_1_shiites-sunni-karachi|title=Sectarian Strife Threatens Pakistan`s Fragile Society|last=Broder|first=Jonathan|date=10 November 1987|work=Chicago Tribune|quote=But President Mohammad Zia ul-Haq`s program of Islamizing Pakistan`s political, economic and social life, begun in 1979, has proved to be a divisive wedge between Sunnis and Shiites. `The government says only one code of law-the Sunni code-applies to all, and the Shiites won`t agree to it,` says Ghufar Ahmed, a member of National Assembly from the Sunni fundamentalist Jamaat-i-Islami Party, an influential opposition group that has spearheaded the campaign to subordinate the state to Islam.|access-date=31 December 2016|via=}}</ref> Attacks on Shias increased under the presidency of [[Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq|Zia-ul-Haq]].<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com.au/books?id=O7GPWbu8XKgC&pg=PT24&dq=gilgit+shias+1988+killing&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjgzNmygZzRAhWKkpQKHeKqCgYQ6AEIRTAI#v=onepage&q=gilgit%20shias%201988%20killing&f=false|title=Around Rakaposhi|last=Jones|first=Brian H.|publisher=Brian H Jones|year=2010|isbn=9780980810721|location=|pages=|quote=Many Shias in the region feel that they have been discriminated against since 1948. They claim that the Pakistani government continually gives preferences to Sunnis in business, in official positions, and in the administration of justice...The situation deteriorated sharply during the 1980s under the presidency of the tyrannical Zia-ul Haq when there were many attacks on the Shia population.|via=}}</ref> Pakistan`s first major [[Shia Islam|Shia]]-[[Sunni Islam|Sunni]] riots erupted in 1983 in [[Karachi]] during the Shia holiday of [[Muharram]], leaving at least 60 people were killed. More Muharram disturbances followed over the next three years, spreading to [[Lahore]] and the [[Baluchistan]] region and leaving hundreds more dead. In July 1986, [[Sunni Islam|Sunnis]] and [[Shias]], many of them armed with locally made automatic weapons, clashed in the northwestern town of [[Parachinar]], where at least 200 died.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1987-11-10/news/8703240490_1_shiites-sunni-karachi/2|title=Sectarian Strife Threatens Pakistan`s Fragile Society|last=Broder|first=Jonathan|date=10 November 1987|work=Chicago Tribune|quote=Pakistan`s first major Shiite-Sunni riots erupted in 1983 in Karachi during the Shiite holiday of Muharram; at least 60 people were killed. More Muharram disturbances followed over the next three years, spreading to Lahore and the Baluchistan region and leaving hundreds more dead. Last July, Sunnis and Shiites, many of them armed with locally made automatic weapons, clashed in the northwestern town of Parachinar, where at least 200 died.|access-date=31 December 2016|via=}}</ref>
-In May 1988, Pakistan's military dictator General [[Zia-ul-Haq]], in an attempted massive sectarian attack,<ref>[https://lubpak.com/archives/75379 "Shia genocide in Gilgit Baltistan and the role of army-sponsored non-state actors" by Abdul Nishapuri]</ref> sent a Lashkar (army) of militants, comprising natives of [[Afghanistan]] and [[Khyber Pakhtunkhwa]], to attack the Shias living there. Sunnis, predominantly from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s tribal areas, assisted by local Sunnis from [[Chilas]], [[Darel]] and [[Tangir]], attacked several Shia villages on the outskirts of [[Gilgit]] on May 17, 1988.
+The first major anti-Shia riots in [[Gilgit District|Gilgit]] broke out in May 1988 over the sighting of the moon, which ushers the end of the holy month of [[Ramadan]]. When [[Shias]] in [[Gilgit District|Gilgit]] celebrated [[Eid al-Fitr]], a group of extremist [[Sunni Islam|Sunnis]], still fasting because their religious leaders had not announced the sighting of the moon, attacked them. This led to violent clashes between [[Sunni Islam|Sunnis]] and [[Shias]]. After a brief calm of nearly four days, the Pakistani military regime allegedly used certain militants along with local Sunnis to ‘teach a lesson’ to [[Shias]], which led to hundreds of [[Shias]] and [[Sunni Islam|Sunnis]] being killed.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://herald.dawn.com/news/1153556|title=This Muharram, Gilgit gives peace a chance|last=Shamil|first=Taimur|date=12 October 2016|work=Herald|quote=The first major sectarian clash occurred almost 30 years ago, after anti-Shia riots broke out in May 1988 over the sighting of the moon, which ushers the end of the holy month of Ramzan. When Shias in Gilgit celebrated Eidul Fitr, a group of extremist Sunnis, still fasting because their religious leaders had not announced the sighting of the moon, attacked them. This led to violent clashes between the two sects. In 1988, after a brief calm of nearly four days, the military regime allegedly used certain militants along with local Sunnis to ‘teach a lesson’ to Shias, which led to hundreds of Shias and Sunnis being killed.|access-date=31 December 2016|via=}}</ref>
-==Conflict==
-After reaching the outskirts of Gilgit without intervention from security agencies, Shias from surrounding villages were [[massacre]]d and those who survived took refuge in Shia-dominated villages. Shiites from villages such as Sai, [[Bunji, Pakistan|Bunji]] (which is also Pakistan Armed Forces Headquarter), Jaglote and Pari Bangla were forcibly expelled.
+Raman states that there was a revolt in [[Gilgit District|Gilgit]] by its Shia population, which called for a separate Shia state. The [[Pakistan Army]] then transported [[Osama bin Laden|Osama Bin Laden]] and his horders to massacre hundreds of [[Shia Islam|Shia]] civilians-men, women and children.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />
-Next, [[Haramosh]] valley was attacked to reach [[Baltistan]], but the attackers failed to achieve their goals and returned after suffering heavy casualties, despite having superior weapons and armed strength. They torched [[Shuto]] village on their way to Haramosh.
+== Conflict ==
-At the same time, another village named Jalalabad was attacked by militants. It was defended by local villagers and volunteers from [[Nagar, Pakistan|Nagar]], but after a day of heavy fighting, the attackers seized the village. This was the bloodiest clash during the conflict and heavy casualties were reported on both sides. Jalalabad and Batkor villages were torched, while the authorities did not interfere.
+The Herald, the monthly journal of the prestigious [[Dawn Group of Newspapers|Dawn]] group of [[Karachi]], wrote in its April 1990 issue: <blockquote>In May 1988, low-intensity political rivalry and sectarian tension ignited into full-scale carnage as thousands of armed tribesmen from outside Gilgit district invaded Gilgit along the Karakoram Highway. Nobody stopped them. They destroyed crops and houses, lynched and burnt people to death in the villages around Gilgit town. The number of dead and injured was in the hundreds. But numbers alone tell nothing of the savagery of the invading hordes and the chilling impact it has left on these peaceful valleys.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/the-aq-khan-proliferation-highway-iii/261824|title=The AQ Khan Proliferation Highway - III|last=Raman|first=B|date=14 September 2009|work=Outlook|access-date=31 December 2016|via=}}</ref></blockquote>
-The next battle was reported from Sakwar (a village just outside Gilgit).Here the first 3 attacks were repelled due to having high position the villagers defend it well making 70+ casualties on other side but having lack of ammunition and manpower finally defence line was breached on 3rd day and dozens of houses were torched and looted .
-Although contingents of the paramilitary [[Frontier Constabulary]] (FC) were eventually sent in, they too looked the other way while Sunni attackers wreaked havoc. By the time army units were sent in to quell the violence, many people were killed, several hundred injured and property worth millions of rupees destroyed.
 ==Casualties==
-The exact number of casualties has been disputed. According to sources 150<ref>[http://urdutahzeeb.net/articles/blog1.php?p=15659&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1 "Gilgit-Baltistan: Murder most Foul" by Ambreen Agha]</ref> to 400 people were killed while hundreds of others were injured.
+The exact number of casualties has been disputed. According to sources 150 to 400 people were killed while hundreds of others were injured.<ref>[http://urdutahzeeb.net/articles/blog1.php?p=15659&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1 "Gilgit-Baltistan: Murder most Foul" by Ambreen Agha]</ref> Unofficial reports gave a number of 700 Shias killed.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com.au/books?id=NFc6HRtveZQC&pg=PA124&dq=gilgit+shias+osama+bin+laden&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjBv5zhhJ7RAhVCI5QKHT5ED6cQ6AEIODAG#v=onepage&q=gilgit%20shias%20osama%20bin%20laden&f=false|title=Kashmir Across Loc|last=Mahapatra|first=Debidatta Aurobinda|last2=Shekhawat|first2=Seema|publisher=Gyan Publishing House|year=2007|isbn=9788121209687|location=|pages=124|quote=As per unofficial reports, there was killing of about 700 Shias.|via=}}</ref>
-A report of the International Human Rights Observer’s (IHRO) Gilgit-Baltistan chapter estimates that around 3,000 people have been killed in Gilgit-Baltistan Province since 1988. On the loss of lives and its impact, IHRO states that about 900 women have been widowed and nearly 2,500 children orphaned. “The loss to property is inestimable.”
 ==References==

Revision as of 08:58, 31 December 2016

Background

Conflict

Casualties

References

See also