Gilgit Baltistan, 10 Apr, 2018: Anger and distress against Chinese are brewing among families in Gilgit Baltistan following news being received of Uighur women in Xinjiang province being arrested. Xinjiang's proximity to Gilgit Baltistan has seen both of these regions sharing long historical, cultural and family ties. Many Uighurs are married to Gilgit-Baltistan locals. The arrests of Uighur women could be a result of China's suspicion of their alleged association with Islamist extremists. An all-party conference was held in Gilgit recently on Chinese transgressions and a demand was made for the immediate release from jail of over fifty Uighur women who had been implicated on false charges of terrorism. They also demanded imposition of a trade ban against China for a year.
