India blasts 'cosmetic' polls in POK, says attempt to camouflage illegal occupation
India on Tuesday dismissed the ongoing local body elections in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (POK) as a "cosmetic exercise", accusing Islamabad of using the polls to legitimise
India on Tuesday dismissed the ongoing local body elections in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (POK) as a "cosmetic exercise", accusing Islamabad of using the polls to legitimise its "illegal occupation" of the region and cover up "grave" human rights abuses. Addressing a weekly media briefing, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the electoral process could not alter India's long-standing position on the status of the region. Read Full Story "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," he said. The first phase of polling got underway this week in the local legislative elections in POK amid heavy security deployment and widespread unrest.
Several incidents of ballot box looting and clashes were also reported during the voting. The voting follows days of protests across the region. The banned Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) alleged that at least 14 protesters were killed after Pakistani security forces opened fire on a march on July 27. INDIA REITERATES ITS STAND ON POK Reiterating New Delhi's position, Jaiswal said the entire Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, including areas under Pakistan's control, are an integral part of India. "India's position on this matter has been clear, consistent, and well known. The entire Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh, including the areas currently under Pakistan's illegal and forcible occupation, are integral and inalienable parts of India." India has consistently maintained that Pakistan has no legal claim over the territory it administers in the region and has repeatedly objected to political or administrative measures taken there, saying they have no legal validity.
'PROTESTS REFLECT PUBLIC DISCONTENT' The MEA spokesperson also referred to the protests that have taken place in POK in recent months, saying they reflected growing public dissatisfaction rather than isolated incidents. "As we have stated earlier, the ongoing mass protests in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir are the direct consequences of Pakistan's economic exploitation, its denial of the people's fundamental rights, and its administrative oppression," Jaiswal said. POK has witnessed recurring protests in recent months over rising prices of essential commodities, inflation and broader governance issues. Demonstrators have accused the authorities of failing to address worsening economic hardships, while also demanding affordable electricity, subsidised wheat flour and greater accountability from the administration. India has repeatedly cited these protests to argue that people living in the region are facing political, economic and administrative challenges under Pakistan's control.
The BriefWire