ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Friday strongly rejected India's criticism of the upcoming elections in Gilgit-Baltistan, describing New Delhi's statements as “baseless” and politically motivated. Pakistan also reiterated its longstanding position that the unresolved Jammu and Kashmir dispute can only be settled through the implementation of United Nations Security Council resolutions.
In a sharply worded statement, the Foreign Office accused India of attempting to distort facts and propagate what it termed a misleading narrative regarding the electoral process in Gilgit-Baltistan. Pakistan said India's remarks were part of a recurring pattern aimed at diverting international attention from developments in the disputed Himalayan region and from the situation in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).
The statement dismissed New Delhi's assertions regarding Gilgit-Baltistan as unfounded, maintaining that such claims could not alter the historical and legal realities surrounding the Jammu and Kashmir dispute. Islamabad said India's latest comments reflected a continued effort to conflate facts with political rhetoric and rejected the allegations in their entirety.
Pakistan Reaffirms Kashmir Position
Reaffirming Pakistan's position on Kashmir, the Foreign Office said India remained in occupation of what it described as the internationally recognised disputed territory of Jammu and Kashmir. It argued that the dispute remains one of the oldest unresolved issues on the agenda of the United Nations Security Council and that a lasting solution requires the implementation of relevant UN resolutions guaranteeing the Kashmiri people the right to determine their future through a free and impartial plebiscite under UN auspices.
The statement said the origins of the dispute trace back to 1947 and stressed that any durable and just settlement must be based on the aspirations of the Kashmiri people and the commitments made under international law.
Human Rights Concerns in IIOJK
Pakistan further accused India of attempting to shift attention away from what it called serious human rights concerns in IIOJK. The Foreign Office said the Indian security forces continue to operate with impunity under stringent laws imposed in the territory and claimed that the rights and freedoms of the Kashmiri population remain under severe pressure.
Highlighting the deteriorating human rights situation in the occupied territory, Islamabad urged the international community to take note of developments in IIOJK and called for greater transparency and independent scrutiny of conditions on the ground.
Demand for Reversal of Indian Actions
The Foreign Office renewed its demand for India to reverse its “illegal and unilateral measures” taken in Jammu and Kashmir since August 5, 2019. It also called on New Delhi to repeal restrictive laws, permit access to international human rights and humanitarian organisations, independent observers and foreign media, and create conditions that would allow impartial assessment of the situation in the territory.
Pakistan urged India to fulfil its obligations under the relevant UN Security Council resolutions by enabling the Kashmiri people to exercise their right to self-determination.
