India on Tuesday strongly criticised the local body elections held in Pakistan-held Kashmir, calling them a “complete farce” and accusing Pakistan of using force to suppress public protests in the region.
Addressing a weekly media briefing, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the elections could not conceal the ongoing unrest and allegations of human rights abuses.
“This so-called local election in PoK is a complete farce. The real happening is that of public protests and wanton killings by Pakistani forces. Such hollow exercises cannot hide reality,” Jaiswal said.
He claimed that at least 90 civilians had lost their lives since June during what he described as a continuing crackdown by Pakistani authorities.
“Since June this year, at least 90 civilians have lost their lives in the continuing crackdown,” he said.
India accuses Pakistan of repression
The MEA alleged that Pakistan had responded to public anger with violence rather than addressing people’s concerns.
“The Pakistani establishment has answered public discontent with bullets, blackouts, intimidation and repression, and now seeks to manufacture legitimacy through a hollow electoral exercise,” Jaiswal said.
He added, “It must be held accountable, and the world should see through the flimsy veneer of Pakistan’s hypocritical lecturing on human rights.”
The comments come amid protests in Pakistan-held Kashmir over rising living costs, alleged administrative neglect, political discrimination and reported atrocities against minorities.
The Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), which has been leading the protests, has accused Pakistani security forces of using excessive force during a march from Rawalakote to Muzaffarabad late last month. The group has appealed to the United Nations Human Rights Council and international human rights organisations for an independent investigation into the alleged killings.
India urges action against cross-border terrorism
Responding to another question during the briefing, Jaiswal also reiterated India’s demand that Pakistan dismantle terrorist infrastructure operating from its territory.
“We continue to call upon all countries to take strong action against cross-border terrorism and those who promote it,” he said.
“We also call upon Pakistan to take decisive action against cross-border terrorism and dismantle the terrorist infrastructure operating from its soil,” he added.
His remarks came in response to reports circulating on social media claiming that several commanders of the Pakistan-based militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba had been killed.
