Chitral (Chitral Express): Dr. Inayatullah Faizi and renowned legal expert Shahid Ali Khan Yiftali Advocate have said that raising the issue of the boundary between Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral at Shandur again could create concern, anxiety and unrest in the area. They alleged that the Indian intelligence agency RAW, through its alleged local agents, is promoting advocacy to create misunderstandings in Gilgit-Baltistan and make Shandur disputed.
In a joint statement, they said that after the issue of demarcating the Shandur Pass was raised during the Gilgit-Baltistan chief minister’s meeting with the governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa the previous day, a wave of concern had spread from Chitral to Gilgit. According to them, since 1979, certain elements have repeatedly tried to raise the issue and create misunderstandings.
They claimed that Shandur has historically been part of Chitral since 1240, during the rule of Somalik, and that the boundary of the area remained in place during the rule of the Rais, Khushwaqt and Katoor families as well. The 1975 Land Commission also maintained the previous boundary, and Shandur is recorded as part of Chitral in the revenue department’s records.
The statement said that after the Frontier Corps established a permanent post for the Chitral Scouts at Shandur in 1980, the Indian intelligence agency RAW tried to make Shandur disputed, but the attempt was unsuccessful. According to them, a boundary between Ghizer and Laspur exists at Langer, while around 800 Laspur households live in the area and have places of worship there.
They further said that between 1980 and 2015, attempts were made to take up the boundary issue in the Joint Ministerial Commission, file a case in the Chief Court in Gilgit, and establish a new boundary through a secret memorandum of understanding (MoU), but these attempts were unsuccessful. According to them, the Additional Advocate General of Peshawar had defended Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s position in the Chief Court, and a record of this is also available.
Dr. Inayatullah Faizi and Shahid Ali Khan Yiftali Advocate called on the chief minister of Gilgit-Baltistan and the governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to obtain the relevant official records and receive a full briefing before taking any action on the matter. They said the government’s job is to resolve existing issues, not to create new disputes and invite unrest and disorder.
They stressed that the boundary established between Upper Chitral and Ghizer at Langer is a symbol of brotherhood and mutual ties between the people of the two areas. Repeatedly making it disputed is not in the national interest. They warned that the people of Laspur would strongly resist any unjust action and called for the people of Laspur and Ghizer to be taken into confidence and for progress on this sensitive matter to be made by mutual consensus.
Source: https://chitralexpress.com/updates/2026/11/09/106872/
Muhammad Nayab Khan is a seasoned Freelance Journalist, Media Professional, and Enterprise Development expert based in Chitral, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Holding an MBA in Finance from Punjab University, he brings a unique economic and digital perspective to media storytelling, corporate branding, and regional development. He maintains active professional affiliations with Qashqar TV (First PEMRA Licensed WebTV in Chitral) and Chitral Express (Chitral’s Largest News Network), where he contributes high-impact digital content, editorial visuals, and comprehensive coverage of regional socio-economic issues. As a multi-faceted entrepreneur and media creator, Nayab combines sharp investigative insight with advanced visual communication to highlight local narratives on regional and national platforms.
