New Delhi links violent protests during Pakistan-occupied Kashmir elections to Islamabad’s economic exploitation and denial of basic freedoms
India on Tuesday rejected the ongoing legislative assembly elections in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, calling them a hollow exercise designed to mask illegal occupation and mask serious human rights violations in the region.
External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, addressing a routine press briefing, reaffirmed India’s long-held stance that the entire union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh including Pakistan-held areas remain integral parts of India. He described the polls as an attempt to disguise unlawful control over the territory.
The ongoing unrest stems from clashes between security forces and demonstrators demanding an end to assembly seats reserved for refugees from Indian Jammu and Kashmir. Roughly 40 people have died in the protests since June, with authorities using force and tear gas against crowds during Monday’s first phase of a three-round voting process.
Jaiswal attributed the unrest directly to Pakistan’s economic mismanagement, suppression of rights, and heavy-handed governance in the region.
On a separate note, when questioned about shared Indus Valley heritage amid India’s suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, Jaiswal dismissed the argument, pointing to Pakistan’s alleged decades-long support for cross-border terrorism as disqualifying any claim to cultural legacy. He also connected Pakistani youth voices supporting India’s Gen Z protests to India’s own demand that Pakistan end terror sponsorship.
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