Quetta, Sept. 25 -- A 39-year-old Pakistani National Security Advisor (NSA) Moeed W Yusuf has played a crucial role in Islamabad's decision to revoke the notional autonomy granted to Gilgit-Baltistan (GB).

He also incorporated the disputed region as one of Pakistan's five provinces, Pakistan watchers in New Delhi told Hindustan Times, describing Pakistan's young National Security Adviser as one of the project's key driving forces.

The army has scaled up its presence in the GB region over the years to secure the CPEC that has faced some opposition from locals over concerns that it destroys the environment, culture, and social fabric without much benefit to the people, the report said.

The effort to change Gilgit-Baltistan's disputed sta...