KP-GB boundary disputes may finally move towards resolution after Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi and Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Minister Amjad Hussain agreed to initiate negotiations over several contested territories along the boundary between the two regions. The discussions, held in Islamabad on Sunday, focused on resolving decades-old disagreements involving Shandur Top, Babusar Top and areas surrounding the Diamer-Bhasha and Dassu dams.
The agreement marks an important step towards addressing territorial disagreements that have repeatedly generated tensions and violent confrontations between communities living along the KP-GB boundary. Rather than pursuing unilateral claims, both leaders agreed to resolve the outstanding issues through institutional negotiations and mutual understanding.
According to a statement issued by the Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Minister’s Secretariat, the chief secretaries of both regions will initially take up the disputed matters before referring them to their respective political leaderships for further deliberations. The proposed process is intended to establish a peaceful mechanism for resolving disagreements over territorial boundaries and jurisdiction.
The meeting also addressed other matters of mutual interest, including improved air connectivity between Islamabad and Gilgit and the training of relevant officials.
KP-GB Boundary Disputes: Shandur Top and Babusar Top Remain Contested
Among the most prominent territorial disagreements between Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan are the disputes involving Shandur Top and Babusar Top. Both locations are strategically and economically significant, making the question of territorial ownership particularly sensitive for the communities and administrations concerned.
Shandur Top, situated at an altitude of approximately 12,500 feet, is famous for hosting the world’s highest polo ground and the annual Shandur Polo Festival. The area is claimed by both KP and Gilgit-Baltistan, with the dispute currently under consideration by a provincial boundary commission.
Beyond its geographical significance, Shandur is an important tourism destination that attracts visitors from across Pakistan and abroad. The unresolved territorial question has complicated administrative arrangements and raised concerns about which regional government should exercise jurisdiction over the area.
Babusar Top presents another longstanding challenge. Connecting Mansehra with Diamer through the Kaghan Valley, the mountain pass is an important route linking northern communities and facilitating tourism and regional transportation.
However, disagreements over its ownership and jurisdiction have remained unresolved at the federal level. The dispute has also affected land acquisition and compensation matters. Properties acquired in 2001 for road expansion became the subject of outstanding payment claims, prompting the Peshawar High Court to direct the National Highway Authority (NHA) and the KP government to clear the dues owed to affected landowners.
The inclusion of both locations in the latest negotiations indicates that the proposed settlement will need to address not only geographical boundaries but also the administrative and financial consequences of disputed ownership.
Diamer-Bhasha Dam Boundary Dispute and the Harban-Thor Tribal Conflict
Another significant aspect of the KP-GB boundary disputes concerns an approximately eight-kilometre stretch of land near the Diamer-Bhasha Dam, involving the Harban tribe of Kohistan and the Thor tribe of Diamer.
The disagreement has a history of violent confrontations. In 2014, a clash between the communities over the disputed territory resulted in five deaths and left 15 people injured. The incident demonstrated how unresolved land ownership questions can escalate into serious security and humanitarian concerns, particularly in areas where tribal affiliations and traditional territorial claims carry considerable importance.
A 24-member jirga eventually helped defuse the longstanding disagreement in 2022. Its intervention paved the way for official demarcation and compensation payments to affected Kohistan settlers.
Although this particular dispute made progress through traditional mediation, other questions concerning territorial ownership and jurisdiction have continued to complicate relations between communities on both sides of the boundary. Disagreements involving areas surrounding the Dassu Dam and Babusar Top remain particularly important.
The latest agreement between the two regional leaders could provide an opportunity to build on earlier efforts by combining traditional conflict-resolution mechanisms with formal administrative negotiations. However, the success of this approach will depend on whether the affected communities are meaningfully consulted and whether any eventual settlement is accepted by the people living in the disputed territories.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan Seek Peaceful Boundary Negotiations
The decision to involve the chief secretaries before referring the disputes to political leadership suggests that both administrations intend to establish an institutional process for addressing the outstanding territorial questions.
The negotiations are expected to focus on reaching mutually acceptable arrangements rather than allowing disagreements to develop into further confrontations. This is particularly important given the history of tensions along the KP-GB boundary, where uncertainty over administrative jurisdiction has sometimes contributed to disputes between local communities.
Resolving these issues could also improve coordination between the two administrations in matters involving infrastructure, land management, public services and development projects.
The areas surrounding the Diamer-Bhasha and Dassu dams make the issue especially significant. Large infrastructure projects require clear administrative arrangements, particularly where land acquisition, compensation and local ownership claims are involved. Unresolved disputes can complicate development activities and create uncertainty for communities whose land and livelihoods may be affected.
A negotiated settlement could therefore provide benefits beyond the immediate question of territorial ownership by establishing clearer responsibilities for both regional administrations.
Nevertheless, the agreement to begin negotiations should not be mistaken for a final settlement. The boundaries remain contested, and the outcome will depend on the evidence, consultations and political decisions that emerge from the proposed process.
South Air Proposes New Flights to Improve Gilgit Connectivity
Apart from territorial matters, the Islamabad meeting also addressed longstanding difficulties with air connectivity between Gilgit and the federal capital.
At present, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) operates a 44-seat ATR aircraft on the Islamabad-Gilgit route. Limited seating capacity, combined with frequent weather-related cancellations, has made air travel difficult for residents, tourists, patients and government officials who rely on the service.
The operational limitations of Gilgit Airport further restrict available options, as its infrastructure cannot accommodate larger aircraft.
During the meeting, representatives of private airline South Air discussed the possibility of introducing additional flights with the Gilgit-Baltistan chief minister. According to an official source, the proposed arrangement would involve acquiring aircraft on lease against a guarantee provided by the GB government, with South Air operating the services through a joint-venture arrangement.
The proposed flights are expected to use weather-compliant aircraft on the Islamabad-Gilgit route, potentially improving the reliability of air travel for residents and visitors.
Improved connectivity would be particularly beneficial for tourism, an important economic activity in Gilgit-Baltistan. More reliable flights could make the region more accessible to domestic and international visitors while providing residents with better access to healthcare, education and other essential services in major urban centres.
However, the proposal remains subject to the implementation of the agreed arrangement and the availability of suitable aircraft.
Can the KP-GB Agreement Resolve Decades of Territorial Disputes?
The agreement between Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan represents a constructive attempt to address territorial disagreements that have remained unresolved for decades. By agreeing to initiate negotiations through their chief secretaries, Governor Faisal Karim Kundi and Chief Minister Amjad Hussain have created an administrative channel through which the competing claims can be examined.
The significance of the initiative extends beyond Shandur Top, Babusar Top and the areas surrounding major dams. A durable settlement could reduce tensions between border communities, improve coordination between regional administrations and create greater certainty for future development projects.
However, achieving these objectives will require more than an initial political understanding. The negotiations must account for historical claims, land ownership, administrative records and the interests of communities directly affected by the disputes. Previous confrontations also demonstrate the importance of ensuring that local populations are included in any settlement process.
Ultimately, the success of the KP-GB boundary negotiations will depend on whether both administrations can translate their agreement into a transparent and mutually acceptable resolution. If sustained, the initiative could provide a foundation for improved relations between the two regions while reducing the risk of further conflict over contested territories.
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