India Protests Announcement Of General Elections In Gilgit-Baltistan By Pakistan

India today lodged a strong protest with Pakistan regarding the neighbouring country’s plans to hold “General Elections” to the so-called “Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly” in the Indian territories illegally and forcibly occupied by Pakistan.

The elections are scheduled for 7th of this month. India has reiterated its well-known position that the entire Union Territories of Jammu and 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 and Kashmir to India in 1947. The External Affairs Ministry said in a statement that such endeavours by Pakistan cannot mask the underlying issues of grave human rights violations, political repression, economic exploitation and denial of freedom in territories illegally occupied by Pakistan.

New Delhi has categorically rejected any attempts by Pakistan to bring material change to areas under Pakistan’s illegal occupation, and underlined that such actions cannot hide the fact that Pakistan illegally remains in possession of Indian territories, which must be vacated.

Speaking at the ministerial meeting of a group of friends of victims of terrorism, minister of external affairs (MEA) Secretary (East), Vijay Thakur Singh said, “While assisting victims of terrorism, we shouldn’t lose sight of their right to get justice for crimes against them. Victims of 2008 Mumbai & 2016 Pathankot terror attacks are yet to get justice”.
“It’s due to unwillingness & non-cooperative attitude of a particular country. It is important that we must work towards redressing deficiencies in the international efforts to ensure that perpetrators of terrorism are bought to justice,” said Singh addressing the group.(UPDATED ON 5TH JUNE 2026)