India suppresses Kashmiri Muslims, holds sham elections at gun-point: FO

FO spokesperson says India is unlawfully occupying the territories of Jammu and Kashmir

Pakistan said India to maintain its illegal hold on Jammu and Kashmir suppresses Kashmiri Muslims and holds sham elections at gun-point.

“To maintain its illegal hold on that disputed territory, India has deployed over 700,000 of its forces, atrociously tries to suppress majority voice of Kashmiri Muslims and holds sham elections at gun-point,” Foriegn Office spokesperson Qazi Khalilullah said on Wednesday, while addressing India slamming Pakistan holding elections in Gilgit-Baltistan..

“The dispute stems from India's constant refusal to implement the relevant Security Council Resolutions, which provide for a just solution of the Kashmir issue,” he added.

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The Foreign Office spokesperson rejected India's statement claiming the entire Jammu and Kashmir, including Gilgit and Baltistan, are an integral part of India, saying the country is unlawfully occupying territories in the region.

“Kashmir is an internationally recognised dispute, pending final settlement through a free and impartial plebiscite under the UN auspices, as enshrined in numerous UN Resolutions,” Khalillah said.

“Under these resolutions no material change is allowed, yet India, in complete violation of these resolutions, calls it a state of the union,” he added.

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Addressing India slamming Gilgit-Baltistan polls held on June 8, the Foreign Office spokesperson termed it an “interference in the internal affairs of Pakistan.”

India said the G-B elections were "an attempt by Pakistan to camouflage its forcible and illegal occupation of the regions."

However, Khalilullah responded, “It is actually India which is unlawfully occupying the territories of Jammu and Kashmir.”

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“India's position on Kashmir is one of utter disregard to the UN Resolutions, a consistent pattern of forceful occupation, denial of the inalienable right of self-determination to the people of Jammu and Kashmir.”