Islamabad, Pakistan has strongly rejected India’s comments regarding the upcoming elections in Gilgit-Baltistan, describing the statements as “baseless” and part of what it termed a deliberate campaign of misinformation and propaganda.

In a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Pakistan said India’s claims were an attempt to distort facts and divert international attention from the Jammu and Kashmir dispute. The Foreign Office reiterated that Jammu and Kashmir remains an internationally recognized disputed territory and emphasized that the issue continues to be on the agenda of the United Nations Security Council.

Pakistan maintained that a lasting and peaceful resolution of the dispute can only be achieved through the implementation of relevant UN Security Council resolutions, which call for granting the Kashmiri people their right to self-determination through a free and impartial plebiscite under UN auspices.

The statement further asserted that India’s remarks on Gilgit-Baltistan cannot overshadow what Pakistan described as ongoing human rights violations in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir. The Foreign Office alleged that Indian security forces continue to operate with impunity under stringent laws imposed in the territory.

Pakistan urged India to reverse all unilateral measures introduced in Jammu and Kashmir since August 5, 2019, repeal what it termed draconian laws, and allow access to international human rights organizations, humanitarian agencies, neutral observers, and foreign media to assess conditions on the ground.

Reaffirming its longstanding position, Pakistan called on India to enable the people of Jammu and Kashmir to exercise their right to self-determination in accordance with relevant UN resolutions.