India has rejected the assembly elections being held in PoJK, calling them a “cosmetic electoral exercise” aimed at legitimising Pakistan’s illegal occupation…reports Asian Lite News Desk
India on Tuesday dismissed the assembly elections being conducted in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK), describing them as a “cosmetic electoral exercise” intended to conceal Pakistan’s “illegal occupation” of the territory and alleged human rights violations.
Addressing the Ministry of External Affairs’ weekly media briefing, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal reiterated India’s long-standing position that the entire Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, including the areas under Pakistan’s control, are integral and inalienable parts of India.
“We have seen the reports regarding the so-called assembly elections being conducted in the Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir. India’s position on this matter has been clear, consistent and well-known. The entire union territories of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh, including the areas currently under illegal occupation and forcible occupation of Pakistan, are integral and inalienable parts of India. The current cosmetic electoral exercise is nothing but an attempt by Pakistan to camouflage its illegal occupation and hide its grave human rights violations in the region,” Jaiswal said.
His remarks came amid reports of violence, allegations of electoral malpractice and political tensions during the first phase of polling in PoJK.
According to local media reports, violent clashes, claims of election rigging and the killing of political workers overshadowed voting, with coalition partners accusing each other of undermining the electoral process.
Jaiswal also said the ongoing protests in PoJK reflected growing public dissatisfaction with Pakistan’s administration of the region.
“As we have stated earlier, the ongoing mass protests in the Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, of which you are aware, you would have seen the latest visuals from there, are the direct consequences of its economic exploitation, its denial of fundamental rights to the people and their administrative oppression,” he said.
The comments came as protests intensified across PoJK following a crackdown by Pakistani authorities on demonstrators participating in a “Long March” organised by the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC).
According to the JAAC, at least 20 people were killed and dozens of others injured during the protests after security forces allegedly opened fire on demonstrators.
“The Long March caravans have reached Rawalakot city. According to information received so far, the identities of 19 deceased individuals have been confirmed, while one person did not have identification documents and sustained a bullet wound to the head; his body is present at the Palandri Hospital. Thus, the total deaths have reached at least 20. In addition, other details are contingent upon daylight breaking and the restoration of communications,” the JAAC posted on X.
Videos circulating on social media purportedly showed Pakistani security personnel firing on protesters, although the footage has not been independently verified.
The latest demonstrations followed the collapse of talks between the JAAC and Pakistani authorities, prompting protest organisers to renew calls for public mobilisation across the region.
