India on Friday lodged a strong protest with Pakistan over its plans to hold “General Elections” to the so-called “Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly” on June 7 in territories that are illegally occupied by Islamabad.
In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) reiterated India’s position that “the entire Union Territories of J&K 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 J&K to India in 1947.”
The MEA said India had conveyed its objections to Pakistan regarding the proposed polls and stressed that such actions have no legal validity.
“The Government of India further emphasized 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 statement said.
Rejecting any move to alter the status of the region, 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.” The elections are scheduled to be held on June.
