Editor JK News Today
Commentary
Srinagar
The Pakistan Government has completed a farce of the elections in the so-called “ Gilgit-Baltistan” region , voting for which was held on Sunday, June 7, 2026 . India did warn Pakistan about holding this exercise , but Pakistan went ahead . Now, it is time for India to get more assertive , and if need be, aggressive in diplomacy to neutralize Pakistan’s designs to demonstrate its control over the illegally occupied territories that legally belong to India .
The results of the elections held on June 7 are out , and a government would also come up but there are questions about the legitimacy of the elections.
Pakistan has no locus standi in the region , which was part of the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir that acceded to India . These are the Indian territories under the illegal occupation of Pakistan , and as such , Islamabad has no authority to hold the elections here.
The land and the people belong to India; therefore, the “elections” have no legality whatsoever.
It is quite an unsettling development . India had waned against geopolitical misadventure in the illegally occupied territories as everything from the land to demography belonged to India .
On June 5, the Indian ministry of external affairs told Pakistan in categorical terms that its plans to hold “ General Elections to the so-called “ Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly” in the Indian territories illegally and forcibly occupied by Pakistan , scheduled for June 7, 2026.”
Three points were spotlighted in the MEA statement – ( a) the entire Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh , including the so-called “ Gilgit-Baltistan,” are integral and inalienable parts of India as a result of complete , legal and irrevocable accession of Jammu and Kashmir to India in 1947; ( b) the 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 . And , ( C) The GoI categorically any attempt by 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 .
Now, we approach the question , what next after the elections in the occupied territories of Gilgit-Baltistan , which essentially are part of the UT of Ladakh of India. Do Members of the Assembly or the Chief Minister , so elected, have any powers . The answer is , NO. It’s because technically the Assembly can legislate laws for the region , but these can be overruled by the Pakistani government .
Why elections were held ? Gilgit-Baltistan is treasure trove of glaciers , rich with high quality water , with big potential to generate power , and hub of multi-billion dollar China- Pakistan Economic Corridor . The Assembly and the so-called government of the region has no say in these matters , which are so critical to their survival and human dignity .The protests in the region were quelled by force . Protestors were shot by Pakistani army.
Pakistan holds these elections in the illegally occupied territories to put up a face of legitimacy to befool the world opinion . The irony is that it calls this particular region in high Himalayas – Hindu Kush and the Karakoram . It is also having mega power projects , which are again illegal as they are on the rivers of the occupied territories , Diamer Basha proposed Bunji Dam with the estimated capacity of 4,500 and 7,000 MWs respectively. But the local residents have neither access to the waters nor they are entitled to the power . All the benefits flowing out of the rivers and projects are meant for Pakistan , leaving locals high and dry.
These elections being held in G_B since 2009. You read it right. There were no elections until 2009 . These territories were known as Northern Arras were administered by Pakistani government . It was after the local protests and the international pressure that Pakistan government decided to hold Assembly polls, but committed no powers to the elected body. It was multiplication of farce .
Now when the so-called elections have been held in so-called Gilgit-Baltistan , India would do well to expose Pakistan’s hypocrisy at all levels. It should assert its sovereignty over these territories, people and resources . The usually reactive statements should be converted into assertive ones . Pakistan cannot have cake and eat it too, It should have neither cake nor it should be allowed to eat. It is as simple as that.
