NEW DELHI, JULY 6, 2026
India has firmly rejected Pakistan's intention to hold regional elections in Gilgit-Baltistan, asserting that the territory remains an integral part of India. The Ministry of External Affairs stated unequivocally that Pakistan's actions are a violation of India's sovereignty and territorial integrity. New Delhi maintains that Gilgit-Baltistan has always been, and shall continue to be, an essential component of the Indian Union.
The statement from India comes as Pakistan prepares for what it terms "elections" in the disputed region. New Delhi considers these polls an attempt by Pakistan to illegally and forcibly occupy parts of India, and thus, such exercises lack any legal or constitutional basis. India has consistently voiced its objections to any administrative or political changes undertaken by Pakistan in Gilgit-Baltistan.
Background to the Dispute
The territory of Gilgit-Baltistan, situated in the northernmost part of the Indian subcontinent, has been a point of contention between India and Pakistan since their partition in 1947. India asserts its claim based on the instrument of accession signed by the then-Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir. Pakistan, however, administers the region and has conducted various political processes there over the decades, which India deems illegitimate.
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The region is strategically vital, bordering Afghanistan, China, and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. Its administration by Pakistan has been a persistent source of diplomatic friction, with India frequently calling for the vacation of territories it considers illegally occupied.
