India Protests Pakistan’s Plan to Hold Elections in Gilgit-Baltistan
New Delhi — India has lodged a strong protest with Pakistan over its plan to hold “General Elections” to the so-called “Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly,” reiterating that the region is part of Indian territory illegally occupied by Pakistan.
The Ministry of External Affairs said India rejected Pakistan’s attempt to hold elections in Gilgit-Baltistan and reaffirmed that the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, including Gilgit-Baltistan, are integral and inalienable parts of India.
“The Government of India lodged a strong protest with Pakistan regarding the latter’s plans to hold “General Elections” to the so-called “Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly”, in the Indian territories illegally and forcibly occupied by Pakistan, scheduled for 7 June 2026. The Government of India reiterated its well-known position that the entire Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, including the so-called ‘Gilgit-Baltistan’, are integral and inalienable parts of India as a result of complete, legal and irrevocable accession of Jammu and Kashmir to India in 1947,” the MEA said in a statement.
The statement came after Pakistani authorities announced that polling for all constituencies of the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir Assembly would be held on July 27.
The MEA said India rejects any attempt by Pakistan to bring material changes to areas under its illegal occupation and said such actions cannot obscure Pakistan’s continued occupation of Indian territory.
“The Government of India further emphasised that such endeavours by Pakistan cannot mask the underlying issues of grave human rights violations, political repression, economic exploitation and denial of freedom in territories illegally occupied by Pakistan,” the MEA said.
“The Government of India categorically rejects any attempts by Pakistan to bring material change to areas under Pakistan’s illegal occupation, and underlines that such actions cannot hide the fact that Pakistan illegally remains in possession of Indian territories, which it must vacate,” it added.
India has repeatedly raised concerns over the situation in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan. Last November, India urged Pakistan to end what it called “grave” human rights abuses in areas of Kashmir under Pakistani occupation.
“In the last few weeks alone, the occupying Pakistani forces and their proxies have killed many innocent civilians who are agitating for their basic rights and freedoms” in parts of Kashmir in occupies”, Bhavika Managalanandan, a First Secretary at India’s UN Mission, said at the U.N. General Assembly.
“We call upon Pakistan to stop the grave and ongoing human rights violations in the areas illegally occupied by it, where the population is an open revolt against Pakistan’s military occupation, repression, brutality and illegal exploitation of resources”, she said while responding to Pakistan’s remarks.
Mangalanandan said the participation of people in Jammu and Kashmir in elections reflected India’s democratic process.
“We reject attempts by Pakistan to denigrate the people of India and the Democratic choices regularly exercised, including by the people of Jammu and Kashmir,” and “the social and economic progress experienced by them is evident for all to see”.
She added, “It is unfortunate that Pakistan has resorted to subversion of the principle of self-determination by resorting to false equivalences”.
Pakistan has frequently cited U.N. Security Council resolutions on Kashmir, but India has argued that Resolution 47 of April 1948 required Pakistan to withdraw its troops and citizens from Kashmir.
“Let me reiterate the union territories of Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh are an integral and inalienable part of India”, Mangalanandan said. (Source: IANS)
