GILGIT: Uncertainty looms over the upcoming Shandur Polo Festival as Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) has threatened to boycott the historic event unless a “joint organisational framework” is made.
The issue stems from a long-running border dispute with KP over the festival’s location. Both G-B and KP claim ownership of Shandur which connects Ghizer district of G-B with Chitral district of KP.
Shandur Pass, known as the “Roof of the World,” sits 12,500 feet high where the Hindu Kush, Pamir, and Karakoram ranges converge. In July each year, Shandur hosts a free-style polo festival. The iconic festival, a key cultural and sporting event, attracts a large number of participants and tourists from around the world.
In 2010 and 2012, G-B boycotted the event to protest KP’s control over the area accusing the province of monopolising the event. However, both governments later agreed to co-organise the festival.
The situation worsened last year when KP “unilaterally postponed” the festival at the last minute, leaving a large number of spectators and teams stranded at Shandur as they were preparing for the game. The announcement sparked widespread concern and unrest, particularly among the residents of Gilgit-Baltistan.
In response, Ghizer Deputy Commissioner Habibur Rehman wrote a letter to his counterpart in Chitral, expressing his extreme disappointment and concern over the “unilateral decision.”
As the festival nears, G-B Tourism, Sports, and Culture Secretary Zameer Abbas wrote a letter to his KP counterpart, highlighting his “observations and recommendations” about the event.
In his letter, Abbas underscored the importance of the event for G-B and KP, highlighting the “established fact that the Shandur area is a disputed territory between KP and G-B.”
He added, “The ownership claim of both governments is under consideration by a provincial boundary commission. Obviously, the government of G-B, based on revenue and other records, considers Shandur and its surrounding areas as its legitimate territories.”
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However, he said, considering the shared cultural heritage of the people, the historical significance, and the importance of sports for promoting harmony, the government of G-B has been participating in the event as a temporary arrangement.
“However, it is imperative that any event held at this plateau be organised jointly by the respective authorities of both G-B and KP, participating as equals. Failure to do so may not only diminish the utility of the event but also create administrative complications for both sides,” the secretary warned.
Abbas mentioned that his K-P counterpart and other stakeholders had been convening meetings to plan the Shandur Polo Festival 2025 and that he had also been invited to participate.
He said he and the Ghizer deputy commissioner had attended some of these meetings, where he reiterated the widely held view in G-B that the KP government dominates the event while G-B is treated as a guest.
Abbas noted that historically, the event had been organised jointly by KP and G-B tourism departments.
He highlighted that last year, the event was cancelled unilaterally by KP, which caused considerable financial losses to the G-B government due to pre-arrangements and the mobilisation of teams.
“Therefore, it is of utmost importance to organise the event through collaboration so that better and appropriate arrangements can be made, the concerns of the people of G-B can be addressed, and a spirit of mutual celebration can be maintained,” he added.
He suggested that all stakeholders from G-B, including Force Commander Northern Areas (FCNA), Northern Light Infantry, and G-B Scouts, should be invited to consultative meetings to discuss prior arrangements inclusively.
“In the absence of a joint organisational framework, Gilgit-Baltistan will be compelled to abstain from participation in the festival to avoid further administrative issues and to safeguard our regional interests,” he warned.
He requested his counterpart to ensure that all future planning for the Shandur Festival is executed as a joint venture between G-B and KP and that a bilateral coordination committee be formed at the earliest to address logistical, administrative, and cultural considerations for the joint organisation of the event.
When HUM News English asked if a response had been received from K-P, Zameer Abbas confirmed, “Yes, we have received a response.”
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He said the K-P counterpart has shown willingness to discuss collaborative arrangements for the festival. “He [KP Secretary] has suggested to discuss ways for holding the festival together. We hope to do so,” Abbas added, signalling a potential breakthrough in the deadlock.