FO slams India's remarks on AJK polls, says it has no 'standing or moral authority' to comment on process

Pakistan's Foreign Office (FO) strongly rebuked India's remarks on the ongoing elections in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), dismissing them as baseless and politically motivated. FO spokesperson Tahir Andrabi stated that India possesses neither the standing nor the moral authority to comment on the AJK electoral process.

Andrabi's comments came in response to the Indian External Affairs Ministry's characterization of the AJK polls as a "farce." He asserted that such "hollow exercises" cannot obscure the reality of the situation. The FO spokesperson emphasized that Pakistan categorically rejects India's statements, particularly on the eve of the seventh anniversary of India's "illegal and unilateral actions" of August 5, 2019, which sought to alter the status of Jammu and Kashmir.

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Pakistan categorically rejects the baseless and politically motivated remarks of the Indian MEA regarding the ongoing legislative elections in the AJK.

He argued that India's continued denial of fundamental political rights and democratic freedoms in occupied Kashmir disqualifies it from commenting on the democratic process in AJK. Andrabi maintained that the elections in AJK are proceeding peacefully, transparently, and in accordance with the region's constitutional and legal framework, reflecting the democratic aspirations of its people.

The FO spokesperson also accused India of attempting to deflect international attention from its "continued violation of international human rights and humanitarian law" in occupied Kashmir. He urged India to reverse its August 5 actions and foster an environment conducive to a peaceful settlement of the Kashmir dispute in line with UN Security Council resolutions.

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India has neither the standing nor the moral authority to comment on the democratic process in AJK.