Pakistan is reportedly considering a major constitutional shift that would give Pakistan‑occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Gilgit‑Baltistan an interim, province‑like status, according to sources cited by CNN‑News18. The proposal comes at a sensitive geopolitical moment, with India and China holding fresh rounds of talks to stabilise their boundary dispute — a backdrop that Islamabad is said to be watching closely.
The plan under discussion would bring PoK and Gilgit‑Baltistan closer to the constitutional position of Pakistan’s formal provinces while maintaining Islamabad’s long‑stated stance on the broader Kashmir dispute. Officials are examining whether the change should be introduced through the proposed 28th Constitutional Amendment or via separate legislation. A key question is whether Article 1(2) — which defines Pakistan’s territorial composition — will need to be amended. The exact structure of the framework remains undecided.
Both territories have historically held a status distinct from Pakistan’s recognised provinces, with Gilgit‑Baltistan governed through ad‑hoc arrangements and PoK operating under its own constitution. Bringing them closer to provincial status would mark a significant political shift and could have implications for regional diplomacy.
The deliberations come as India and China continue efforts to stabilise ties after years of tension along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). Pakistan’s internal discussions are reportedly unfolding “under Pakistan’s watch” of these developments, reflecting Islamabad’s interest in how regional negotiations may influence its own strategic calculations.