ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has strongly rejected India’s remarks regarding the upcoming Gilgit-Baltistan elections, escalating a fresh round of diplomatic tension between the two countries.
In its official statement on Friday, the Foreign Office dismissed the Indian comments as baseless and part of a “carefully choreographed attempt” to distort facts about the region. The response comes ahead of general elections in Gilgit-Baltistan scheduled for Sunday (June 7), which were delayed earlier due to severe winter conditions.
The PPP and other political parties have already held multiple rallies across the region, stepping up their campaigns as polling day approaches.
Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andarabi said India continues to present what he called misleading narratives about the disputed territory of Jammu and Kashmir. He said India remains in illegal occupation of the region and accused New Delhi of spreading propaganda.
“We unequivocally reject this latest Indian rhetoric with the contempt it deserves,” the statement said.
India’s foreign ministry had earlier objected to the Gilgit-Baltistan elections, claiming the territory is an integral part of India, including Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
Reaffirming Pakistan’s position, the Foreign Office said the Jammu and Kashmir dispute remains the longest-standing issue on the UN Security Council agenda. It said the dispute originated from India’s “forcible occupation” in 1947.
The statement added that a lasting solution lies in implementing UN resolutions that guarantee the Kashmiri people their right to self-determination through a free and impartial plebiscite under UN supervision.
Pakistan also accused India of diverting attention from what it described as human rights violations in Indian-administered Kashmir. It alleged that Indian forces operate with impunity under strict laws.
Islamabad urged New Delhi to reverse all unilateral actions taken since August 5, 2019, and allow access to international observers, human rights groups, and media representatives to assess the situation on the ground.
Earlier, caretaker regional minister Ghulam Abbas rejected Indian claims, saying the people of Gilgit-Baltistan have consistently supported Pakistan and do not accept such narratives.
He said allegations that residents of GB seek to join India are “a laughing stock” in the region and have no credibility internationally.
