India Rejects PoJK Polls Amid Violence; MEA Says Exercise Meant to ‘Camouflage Illegal Occupation’

New Delhi: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Tuesday strongly criticised the so-called Legislative Assembly elections being held in Pakistan-occupied Jammu Kashmir (PoJK), describing them as an attempt by Pakistan to hide its illegal occupation and serious human rights violations. The statement came after reports of violence during protests over the elections, in which at least 20 people were reportedly killed after Pakistani security forces opened fire and used tear gas against protesters.

 

 

 

Responding to the developments, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said:

 

“We have seen reports regarding the so-called Legislative Assembly elections being conducted in Pakistan-occupied Jammu Kashmir. India’s position on this matter has been clear, consistent, and well known. The entire Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh, including the areas currently under Pakistan’s illegal and forcible occupation, 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. As we have stated earlier, the ongoing mass protests in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, of which you are aware, you would have seen the latest visuals from there, are the direct consequences of Pakistan’s economic exploitation, its denial of the people’s fundamental rights, and its administrative oppression.”

 

  

The MEA’s response came after tensions escalated in PoJK when Pakistani security forces opened indiscriminate fire on protesters in Rawalakot and Mirpur. Thousands of people had gathered to march towards Muzaffarabad, demanding governance and electoral reforms. The incident has drawn fresh attention to the continuing unrest in the region, where protests have been ongoing since June.

 

Videos circulating on social media show Pakistani troops firing at unarmed protesters, leading to panic among the crowd. Social media influencer Aqeel Bhai also claimed that security forces used force to stop the march.

 

 

 

According to reports, more than 45 people have been killed and hundreds injured since the protests began in June. Protesters have accused the Pakistani government and security forces of using excessive force to suppress dissent instead of addressing their demands, citing continued repression and human rights violations in Pakistan-occupied Jammu Kashmir.