India Calls Azad Kashmir Elections a 'Cosmetic Exercise'

-

 


The Pakistan Times — Islamabad, July 28, 2026

India Calls Azad Kashmir Elections a 'Cosmetic Exercise' to Mask 'Illegal Occupation'


India's Ministry of External Affairs has described the ongoing Legislative Assembly elections in Pakistan-administered Kashmir as a "cosmetic electoral exercise" intended to camouflage what New Delhi calls Pakistan's illegal occupation of the region, linking recent unrest there to what it described as economic exploitation and denial of fundamental rights. At the time of publication, Pakistan's Foreign Office had not issued a formal, official response to these specific remarks.

What India's Spokesperson Said

Speaking at a regular briefing in New Delhi, according to a statement carried by ANI, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, "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." Jaiswal reiterated India's long-held position that the entire union territories of Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh, including the areas currently administered by Pakistan, are "integral and inalienable parts of India."

On the wave of protests and clashes that have overshadowed the first phase of polling in the region, Jaiswal said, according to the same statement, "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 its economic exploitation, its denial of fundamental rights to the people and their administrative oppression."

Pakistan's Established Position

Pakistan has consistently rejected such characterisations of the region, which it administers as Azad Jammu and Kashmir under a self-governing legislative assembly and which it maintains is a disputed territory whose final status should be determined in accordance with United Nations Security Council resolutions calling for a plebiscite. Pakistani officials have historically dismissed similar remarks from India as attempts to deflect attention from the situation in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir. No specific statement addressing Tuesday's remarks from Islamabad's Foreign Office had been issued by the time of this report, though Pakistan's position on the broader Kashmir dispute has remained unchanged in past exchanges of this kind.

Context: Unrest During the Elections

India's statement comes as the first phase of Azad Jammu and Kashmir's Legislative Assembly elections in Mirpur Division has been accompanied by protests, clashes, and allegations of electoral irregularities. According to reports from the region, violence tied to demonstrations led by the banned Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) has resulted in casualties on multiple sides, with police and protest organisers offering sharply differing accounts of the death toll, figures that remain contested and have not been independently verified.

A Recurring Pattern in India-Pakistan Statements

Tuesday's remarks are consistent with a long-standing pattern in which Indian officials have periodically characterised unrest or political developments in Pakistan-administered Kashmir as evidence of governance failures, while Pakistani officials have historically responded by pointing to India's own record in Indian-administered Kashmir. Jaiswal separately addressed an unrelated question regarding shared Indus Valley heritage in the context of the Indus Waters Treaty, according to the same briefing, though that exchange was not directly connected to the Kashmir elections statement.

What Comes Next

Attention will now turn to whether Pakistan's Foreign Office issues a formal response to India's statement, as has occurred in similar past exchanges between the two countries over the status of Kashmir. Voting in Azad Jammu and Kashmir's remaining constituencies is scheduled to continue in Muzaffarabad Division on August 2 and in Poonch Division on August 10.

Read More:>>>Mirpur Clash: JAAC Supporters, Police Clash Amid Rawalakot Unrest

Sources:  Press Trust of India (via Tribune India)

© The Pakistan Times. All rights reserved.

Comments

Post a Comment

We welcome your thoughts and feedback. Please keep your comments respectful, relevant, and constructive. Spam, abusive, or promotional comments will not be approved.

Popular posts from this blog

US Sea Drones Used Against Iran: How They Work and Why It Matters

-
Image
  US Deploys Explosive Sea Drones The Pakistan Times  Islamabad Times Reports indicate that for the first time, the United States has used one-way attack sea drones in a major military operation against Iran. These drones are small, fast, unmanned boats that carry explosive payloads and can destroy enemy ships or coastal targets. Ukraine has successfully used similar drones against Russia, and Iran has also been reported to develop and use such unmanned maritime systems. The US deployment of this technology in a formal operation marks a significant shift in modern warfare. How Do These Drones Work? The US system is not just a single drone but a network. According to US officials, the Corsair drone is 24 feet long, can carry up to 1,000 pounds of equipment, and travels at 35 knots. It is equipped with 360-degree cameras and radar. It has already been used in the Gulf of Oman to rescue the crew of a US Apache helicopter. The second drone, GARC, is a 5-meter-long autonomous boat ...
Read more

World's Poorest Countries 2026: The Bottom Five by GDP Per Capita

-
Image
  The Pakistan Times  Islamabad Times   World's Poorest Countries 2026 Despite decades of global development efforts, a small group of nations remain trapped at the very bottom of the world's income rankings, with average annual incomes per person still measured in the hundreds of dollars. According to Focus Economics' 2026 consensus forecasts, The Pakistan Times Live looks at the five poorest countries in the world this year by GDP per capita, and examines why they remain stuck in poverty. Note: rankings can vary slightly between sources such as the IMF, World Bank, and private forecasters, depending on methodology and the exchange rates used.) 1. South Sudan  GDP per capita: approximately $445 South Sudan holds the unfortunate distinction of being the world's poorest country by this measure. Years of civil war, chronic political instability, and a near-total dependence on oil revenue have left the economy fragile and unable to diversify. Disputes over oil fiel...
Read more

How Volker Türk Won a Second Term as UN Human Rights Chief

-
Image
How Volker Türk Secured a New Term as UN Human Rights Chief Despite US, Israeli and Russian Opposition no The Pakistan Times — Islamabad, July 25, 2026 The United Nations General Assembly has voted overwhelmingly to grant Volker Türk a second four-year term as the UN's human rights chief, despite strong objections from the United States, Israel, and Russia, making him the first person to serve two full terms in the role since it was created in 1993. The Pakistan Times explains who Türk is, why his reappointment proved contentious, and what the vote reveals about divisions within the world body. The Vote Member states in the 193-nation General Assembly voted 144 in favour to 10 against, with 13 abstentions, to reappoint Türk on Friday. Ahead of the vote, the assembly had also rejected a US proposal to delay the decision by roughly a week, as well as a separate Russian proposal that would have extended Türk's term only until the end of 2026 rather than granting him a full four mo...
Read more