Pak rejects India's remarks regarding Gilgit-Baltistan polls
International 05 Jun, 2026

Pak rejects India's remarks regarding Gilgit-Baltistan polls

Business To Business, Islamabad, 5th June, 2026:    Pakistan on Friday rejected India's objections to the proposed elections for the Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly, reiterating its position on the disputed region.
Pakistan's response
In a statement, Pakistan's Foreign Office of Pakistan said it:
"categorically rejects India's baseless remarks regarding the upcoming elections in Gilgit-Baltistan."
The response came after India formally protested Islamabad's decision to hold elections for the region's assembly on June 7.
India's position
The Ministry of External Affairs has consistently maintained that Gilgit-Baltistan is an integral part of India.
In its latest protest, India reportedly reiterated that:

  • Gilgit-Baltistan is Indian territory.
  • The region is under what India describes as Pakistan's "illegal and forcible occupation".
  • Pakistan has no authority to alter the status of the territory through administrative or electoral measures.
Background
Gilgit-Baltistan forms part of the larger Kashmir region, which has been disputed between India and Pakistan since 1947.
Both countries claim the territory in full but administer different portions:
  • India administers the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
  • Pakistan administers Gilgit-Baltistan and what it calls Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
Continuing dispute
India has routinely objected to elections, constitutional changes, infrastructure projects, and administrative measures undertaken by Pakistan in Gilgit-Baltistan, arguing that such actions have no legal validity because the territory is part of India.
Pakistan, meanwhile, rejects India's claims and continues to administer the region as part of its governance structure.
The latest exchange underscores the continuing differences between the two countries over the status of the broader Kashmir region, one of the most enduring disputes in South Asia.

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