Islamabad, July 03: Pakistan completely rejects remarks by MEA’s Spokesperson regarding elections in Gilgit-Baltistan. The Indian government, which has been holding fraudulent “elections” in the Jammu and Kashmir under the barrel of forces, and has turned the region into the world’s largest open prison, has no locus standi to comment on elections in Gilgit-Baltistan.
Pakistan reiterates that India remains in illegal occupation of parts of Jammu and Kashmir. The Jammu and Kashmir dispute, which is the longest outstanding item on UN Security Council’s agenda.
Pakistan also reiterates that the only resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute is faithful implementation of the relevant UNSC resolutions that recognise the inalienable right of the people of Jammu and Kashmir to self-determination through democratic method of a free and impartial plebiscite under the UN auspices.
Baseless Indian contentions about elections in Gilgit-Baltistan cannot cover up the egregious violations of human rights committed by Indian security forces in the Jammu and Kashmir. Only the other day, the heartless forces in Sopore killed an unarmed civilian in front of the victim’s three-year old grandson. The impunity enjoyed by Indian occupation forces under the draconian laws in place is another dimension of the state-terrorism being perpetrated by India against unarmed Kashmiris.
We call upon the Indian government to vacate all the territories, reverse all illegal actions taken in J&K especially since 5 August 2019, revoke all draconian laws, allow neutral observers, international human rights and humanitarian organisations and the international media to visit the occupied region to ascertain the well-being of the Kashmiri people, and let the Kashmiris exercise their right to self-determination in accordance with UNSC resolutions.
