India slams Gilgit-Baltistan polls
India on Friday lodged a strong diplomatic protest against Pakistan’s decision to conduct so-called “General Elections” for the “Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly” on June 7, asserting that the region is an integral part of India and remains under Pakistan’s illegal occupation.
In an official statement, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) reiterated India’s longstanding position that the entire Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, including Gilgit-Baltistan, are an inalienable part of India by virtue of the complete, legal, and irrevocable accession of the erstwhile princely State of Jammu & Kashmir to India in 1947.
The Government strongly objected to Pakistan’s move to hold elections in the region, describing it as an attempt to alter the status of territories that are illegally and forcibly occupied by Pakistan. “Such actions cannot change the reality that Gilgit-Baltistan is an integral part of India,” the statement emphasised.
India further stated that Pakistan’s efforts to organise elections in the region cannot divert attention from what it described as serious concerns regarding human rights violations, political repression, economic exploitation, and the denial of fundamental freedoms in territories under Pakistan’s control.
The MEA asserted that repeated attempts by Pakistan to create administrative or political structures in the occupied territories are unacceptable and have no legal validity.
“The Government of India categorically rejects any attempts by Pakistan to bring material changes to areas under its illegal occupation,” the statement said, adding that such measures cannot conceal the fact that Pakistan continues to occupy Indian territory unlawfully.
Reiterating its position, India underlined that Pakistan must vacate all areas under its illegal and forcible occupation. The Government maintained that any electoral exercise or administrative action undertaken by Pakistan in these territories carries no legitimacy and does not alter India’s sovereign claim over the region.
The development comes amid continuing tensions between the two countries over the status of Jammu & Kashmir and related territories, with New Delhi consistently opposing any attempts to alter the character or status of areas it considers an integral part of India.
