NLI is composed of Gilgitis, Baltis, Brushos, Wakhis and Khowars. They are composed of eight major ethnic groups: the Baltees, Shins, Yashkuns, Mughals, Kashmiris, Pathans, Ladakis and Turks. The language spoken by these people are dialects of Balti, Shina, Brushaki, Khawer, Wakhi, Turki, Pushto, Urdu and Persian.
49 per cent are Shias and 18 per cent Sunnis, while the Ismailees and Noor Bakhshis make up 23 and 10 per cent respectively. Fifty-five per cent of the sepoys come from Gilgit while 35 per cent hail from Baltistan.
The Northern Light Infantry Regiment was formed in 1971 when several Scout units -- some of which had British-era origins and others which were more recent -- were consolidated.
In 1985, four battalions were raised for deployment in the Siachen Glacier.
They were paramilitary force under FCNA (Force Commander, Northern Area).
It was after the Kargil War, were they converted to regular Army.
In the Kargil War, most of the officers who led the NLI battalions were from other regiments.
It is also true that after the Kargil War, Pakistan claimed the bodies of Sunnis and not the Shias.
Indicates the faith they have or had in the Shias and people of the Northern Area.