thumb|Flag of the Balawaristan National Front
'''Balawaristan''' (Northern Areas, Gilgit, Yasin (see Kargil) are also considered to be a part of Balawaristan by the nationalist parties of Gilgit though the same view may not be shared the people of Ladakh.

The name Balawaristan is used mainly by nationalists of Gilgit region, such as the Balawaristan National Front, who are seeking to define a separate identity for Gilgit, Kashmir Valley and Jammu. They state that they are geographically different from the rest of Kashmir and that the region is illegally occupied by Pakistan and want independence, pointing to UN resolutions that require Pakistan to withdraw its troops. According to the chairman of the Balawaristan National Front, in May 1999, the Supreme Court of Pakistan ruled that Balawaristan "is a disputed territory and the government of Pakistan has no claim over it".<ref>[http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/DH22Df03.html Pakistan's heart of darkness By Abdul Hamid Khan] August 22, 2002 Asia Times</ref> To further complicate matters, the entire region is also claimed by India as part of the occupied state of Jammu & Kashmir.

Balawaristan leaders argue that if the people of the region do not have proportional representation in the Pakistani parliament, then Pakistan should not apply its laws.<ref>[http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/FL18Df03.html Across the divide, PART 3: Gilgit Valley searches for identity by Sultan Shahin] 
December 18, 2004 Asia Times</ref> The leaders have requested UN intervention in settling the North West provinces dispute.<ref>[http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_2-11-2003_pg7_50 UN asked to intervene on constitutional status for NAs] November 2, 2003 Daily Times</ref> There have also been cases of human rights abuses by the occupying Pakistan forces on the locals, which has also been reported to the UN.<ref>[http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/112615.cms Rights wronged in POK, UN told] August 4, 2003 The Times of India</ref>

Officially, the leaders of the Balawaristan support independence, but agree they are willing to stay part of Pakistan if given proper representation in the government.<ref>[http://in.rediff.com/news/2004/mar/17inter.htm 'We are ready to fight against Pakistan'<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Critics argue this is because the idea of an independent Balawaristan is neither widely supported by the people of the region nor will it be able to function as a separate state with a population of less than 1 million.

thumb|Bandera tradicional del Balawaristan
El '''Balawaristan''' es la zona del nord-oest de Caixmir avui annexionada al Pakistan.

En aquesta regió van existir petits estats durant el període de l'Índia Britànica: Yasen, Punial, Gupis, Ishkoman, Gilgit, Nagar (Nagir), Hunza, Astore i Chilas. La Gran Bretanya va posar aquest estats sota sobirania feudal del maharaja de Jammu i Caixmir.

L'estat de Yasen a la seva vegada era sobirà feudal fins al 1860 dels estats de  Chilas, Gupis, Ishkoman i un estat anomenat Mestuch, però després de l'assassinat de l'espia britànic coronel George Hayward el 1860 a mans del sobirà de Yasen, els britànics van separar Gupis i Ishkoman de Yasen, i Mestuch va passar a dependre de Chitral; només Chilas i els  petits estats de [Darel] i Tangir van romandre sota dependència de Yasen fins i tot després de 1947.

Altres estats de la zona, Rundu, Kharmang, Skardu i alguns més, depenien del regne de Ladakh i del regne d'Astore, que a la seva vegada eren dependents de Jammu i Caixmir.