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The house of the Raja was used as a ‘Morcha’ by the Dogras for about seven months and was only vacated when the enemy surrendered. After the Azad Forces had retreated to Qomrah, Raja Mohammad Ali Shah along with a deputation of leading Aghas, Sheikhs and notables met the Commanders of Azad Forces and pledged their loyalty and support. The Azad Forces having received this assurance returned to Skardu. Raja Mohammad Ali Shah rendered all possible help till the Dogra garrison surrendered on 14th August 1948.

Raja Mohammad Ali Shah died in 1960 at the ripe age of 60. He was succeeded by his son Raja Jaffar Ali Khan, who, unfortunately died in 1966, at the young age of about 40 years. Jaffar Ali Khan has only one son Zulfiqar Ali Khan, aged 23 years.

Professor Rush Brook William visited Baltistan sometime after the people had liberated themselves from the Dogra Regime. He stayed for five days and made a through study of the development that had taken place. He writes:-  

“ I found that the whole situation had changes since Darbar times. The Baltis, free from Dogra oppression, had ‘found themselves’ as a people. Agriculture was flourishing; schools were multiplying, an admirable hospital, linked schools were multiplying, and admirable hospital, linked to a chain of dispensaries in the surrounding valleys, was doing first rate work under a devoted hand of Pakistani Doctors. The Baltis were singing again as they went about their work! And everyone I spoke to had nothing but praise for the ‘new deal’. Skardu town even has electric light, provided by ‘spare’ current from the Hospital generators. Every shop of equipment, and supplies of every kind, had to be transported by air from Rawalpindi along one of the most dangerous routes in the world; the toll of aircraft was high but Baltistan’s isolation had vanished with the oppression which had characterized it, her people could come and go freely, finding new opportunities and fresh careers in the Police, in the Northern Scouts, and in the developing Industries of Pakistan. The work done by the Pakistani Officers of the various services who volunteer for duty in Baltistan is beyond praise; out as the country flourishes; the Baltis themselves feel that the great days of their ancient heroes like Ali Shah Khan and his beloved Queen, Mindok Gialmo, Mother of the land, have come again. The progress has been steady and continuous. A new road now links Baltistan to the outside world, and helps to supplement, in the summer at least, air communications. Basic Democracies on the Pakistan model have been introduced and are flourishing. Water channels and irrigation dams are spreading prosperity;

 

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