Baltistan District

Baltistan District is part of Baltistan and currently constitutes one of the six districts of Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan. It is bounded on the east by Ghanche District, on the northeast by Xinjiang, (China), on the south by Baramullah District and Kargil District, on the west by district Astore and on the north by Gilgit District.

This area is claimed by some in India as it used to be a part of the princely state of Jammu & Kashmir (it was one of the six regions of the state). Skardu town is the capital of Skardu District. As of 1948, Skardu and Baltistan are part of Ladakh province of Jammu and Kashmir.

The elections on 12 November 2009 brought about a major change and upheaval in the Baltistan region, which had been once an area ruled by a feudal Raja and then an area under Pakistani military control. It is believed that democracy in the region will also help to bring about more economic development and public empowerment.