New Delhi has lodged a formal protest against Pakistan’s decision to hold general elections in the Gilgit-Baltistan region on June 7, 2026. India maintains that the territory remains an integral part of its sovereign union, characterizing the upcoming vote as an attempt to legitimize an illegal and forcible occupation.
The Ministry of External Affairs reaffirmed the 1947 accession of the former princely state of Jammu & Kashmir as the legal basis for its claim over the region, which includes both Ladakh and Gilgit-Baltistan. Officials condemned the move as a provocative effort to alter the status quo while highlighting ongoing concerns regarding political repression and systemic human rights abuses in the area.Beyond the diplomatic friction, activists are intensifying pressure on the Indian government to intervene. Amjad Ayub Mirza, a prominent rights advocate, has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to address the plight of residents living under what he labels oppressive conditions. Recent reports suggest a crackdown on local dissent, specifically citing the detention of members from the Gilgit-Baltistan Awami Action Committee who have campaigned for greater political and economic autonomy.
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