Islamabad, August 6, 2026: Pakistan on Thursday strongly rejected India’s criticism of the ongoing legislative elections in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), saying New Delhi had “neither the standing nor the moral authority” to comment on the democratic process in the region.
Addressing the weekly media briefing, Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi dismissed the remarks made by India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), describing them as baseless and politically motivated.
He said it was unsurprising that India had issued such statements around the seventh anniversary of its “illegal and unilateral actions” of August 5, 2019, which, he said, sought to alter the internationally recognised disputed status of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) in violation of United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions, international law and India’s international commitments.
Andrabi said the elections in Azad Jammu and Kashmir were being conducted in a peaceful, transparent and orderly manner in accordance with the constitutional and legal framework governing the territory. He said the electoral process reflected the democratic aspirations and political will of the people of AJK.
The spokesperson maintained that India, given its continued denial of fundamental political rights and democratic freedoms in IIOJK, lacked both the standing and moral authority to comment on democratic processes in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
He said misinformation and propaganda could not alter the internationally recognised disputed status of Jammu and Kashmir, reiterating that its final disposition must be determined in accordance with relevant UN Security Council resolutions and the freely expressed will of the Kashmiri people through a United Nations-supervised plebiscite.
Responding to India’s criticism of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar’s Youm-e-Istehsal remarks, Andrabi described the Indian statement as a “self-serving eulogy” for New Delhi’s actions in the occupied territory.
He said a prolonged military presence, coupled with what he termed draconian laws, continued to facilitate demographic changes aimed at altering the Muslim-majority character of IIOJK.
The spokesperson also accused India of systematically suppressing the voices of the Kashmiri people, arguing that development projects could not substitute for their internationally recognised political rights.
Reaffirming Pakistan’s longstanding position, Andrabi called on India to reverse its actions of August 5, 2019, end alleged human rights violations in IIOJK and engage in efforts for the peaceful resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with relevant UN Security Council resolutions.
Pakistan continues diplomatic engagement on US-Iran tensions
Commenting on Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts regarding tensions between the United States and Iran, Andrabi said Islamabad remained actively engaged in supporting initiatives aimed at resolving the crisis, particularly developments relating to the Strait of Hormuz.
He said Pakistan would continue to pursue diplomatic engagement and support all sincere efforts aimed at achieving a comprehensive, just and lasting resolution to the conflict.
The spokesperson expressed hope that progress on the Strait of Hormuz would facilitate the resumption of technical-level negotiations between the United States and Iran under the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding.
He also praised Oman for its constructive role in promoting de-escalation, describing Muscat’s efforts as valuable and steadfast, particularly in its capacity as a littoral state of the Strait of Hormuz.
