'Pakistan must vacate': India slams election plans in POK's Gilgit-Baltistan assembly

NEW DELHI: The ministry of external affairs (MEA) on Friday lodged a "strong protest" over Pakistan's plans to hold general elections in Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir's Gilgit-Baltistan assembly. "The Government of India lodged a strong protest with Pakistan regarding the latter’s plans to hold “General Elections” to the so-called 'Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly', in the Indian territories illegally and forcibly occupied by Pakistan, scheduled for 7 June 2026," MEA said in a statement.It reiterated its stance on Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh region, calling it an "integral and inalienable parts of India as a result of complete, legal and irrevocable accession of Jammu & Kashmir to India in 1947," including POK's Gilgit-Baltistan assembly.It rejected the neighbouring nation's attempts to bring any "material change" to the region and demanded that it must vacate the illegally occupied territories."The Government of India categorically rejects any attempts by Pakistan to bring material change to areas under Pakistan’s illegal occupation, and underlines that such actions cannot hide the fact that Pakistan illegally remains in possession of Indian territories, which it must vacate," it said."The Government of India further emphasized that such endeavours by Pakistan cannot mask the underlying issues of grave human rights violations, political repression, economic exploitation and denial of freedom in territories illegally occupied by Pakistan," it added.