India on Friday said it has lodged a strong protest with Pakistan regarding its plans to hold “General Elections” to the so-called Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly in the “Indian territories illegally and forcibly occupied by Pakistan.”
“The Government of India reiterated its well-known position that the entire Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir 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 Jammu & Kashmir to India in 1947,’’ an official statement said.
New Delhi further emphasised that such endeavours by Pakistan cannot mask the underlying issues of grave human rights violations, political repression, economic exploitation and denial of freedom in the territories illegally occupied by Pakistan.
‘’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 statement added.