India slammed Pakistan on Tuesday, July 28, for conducting the “so-called” assembly elections in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK).
While addressing the bi-weekly media briefing in the national capital, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal termed it as a “cosmetic electoral exercise” that is nothing but an attempt by Pakistan to camouflage its illegal occupation, besides hiding the grave human rights violations in the region, IANS reported.
Reiterating India’s stance on PoJK, the MEA spokesperson clearly stated that the entire Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir as well as Ladakh, including the areas under forcible occupation of Pakistan, remain an integral and inalienable parts of India.
“We have seen the reports regarding the so-called assembly elections being conducted in the Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir. India’s position on this matter has been clear, consistent and well-known. The entire union territories of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh, including the areas currently under illegal occupation and forcible occupation of Pakistan, are integral and inalienable parts of India. 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,” Jaiswal said.
As per local media reports, the first phase of elections in PoJK witnessed violent clashes, allegations of electoral rigging, and the killing of political workers.
Jaiswal asserted that the ongoing deadly protests in PoJK are the direct consequences of Pakistan’s economic exploitation and denial of fundamental rights to those residing in the region.
“As we have stated earlier, the ongoing mass protests in the Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, of which you are aware, you would have seen the latest visuals from there, are the direct consequences of its economic exploitation, its denial of fundamental rights to the people and their administrative oppression,” the MEA spokesperson said.
Earlier in the day, the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) in a social media post claimed that at least 20 people have been killed and dozens of other civilians critically injured during the Long March in PoJK.
“The Long March caravans have reached Rawalakot city. According to information received so far, the identities of 19 deceased individuals have been confirmed, while one person did not have identification documents and sustained a bullet wound to the head; his body is present at the Palandri Hospital. Thus, the total deaths have reached at least 20. In addition, other details are contingent upon daylight breaking and the restoration of communications,” the JAAC posted on X.
The march was being carried out after talks between JAAC and Pakistani authorities failed to produce a mutually acceptable outcome.