Pakistan has announced holding Gilgit-Baltistan legislative assembly elections on November 15

India has strongly protested over Pakistan’s decision to hold elections to the so-called ‘Gilgit-Baltistan’ legislative assembly on November 15.

“The Government of India has conveyed its strong protest to the Government of Pakistan and reiterated that the entire Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, including the areas of so-called Gilgit and Baltistan are an integral part of India by virtue of its accession in 1947, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement on Tuesday.

“The Government of Pakistan has no locus standi on territories illegally and forcibly occupied by it,” the MEA added.

India has also rejected the so-called ‘Gilgit-Baltistan (Elections and Caretaker Government) Amendment Order 2020’ and continued attempt by Pakistan to bring material changes in areas under its illegal and forcible occupation.

“Action such as these can neither hide the illegal occupation of parts of Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh by Pakistan nor the grave human rights violations, exploitation and denial of freedom to the people residing in Pakistan occupied territories for the past seven decades,” the MEA said.

Terming the announcement of elections as cosmetic exercise to camouflage its illegal occupation, the MEA asked Pakistan to immediately vacate all areas under its illegal occupation.

“These are cosmetic exercises intended to camouflage its illegal occupation. We call upon Pakistan to immediately vacate all areas under its illegal occupation,” the MEA added.