India on Tuesday dismissed the so-called local body elections in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir as a “complete farce”, saying the exercise could not conceal the situation on the ground as protests and a crackdown by Pakistani security forces continue in the region.
The Ministry of External Affairs also accused Pakistan of using force against protesters and said the international community should look beyond what it described as Islamabad’s “hypocritical lecturing” on human rights.
Responding to a question on the elections at a regular media briefing, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the protests and killings by Pakistani forces were the real developments in PoK.
“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.
‘90 CIVILIANS KILLED SINCE JUNE’
Jaiswal said at least 90 civilians had been killed since June during the continuing crackdown.
“Since June this year, at least 90 civilians have lost their lives in the continuing crackdown,” he said.
According to Jaiswal, the Pakistani establishment had responded to public discontent with “bullets, black outs, intimidation and repression” and was now attempting to create legitimacy through what he called a “hollow electoral exercise”.
“It must be held accountable, and the world should see through the flimsy veneer of Pakistan’s hypocritical lecturing on human rights,” he said.
PoK has witnessed protests since last month over rising living costs, alleged administrative apathy, political discrimination and alleged atrocities against minorities.
PROTESTERS SEEK UN-LED PROBE
The Joint Awami Action Committee has been leading the protests in PoK amid the local body elections.
Pakistani security forces used lethal force against the JAAC during its long march from Rawalakote to Muzaffarabad late last month. The crackdown reportedly resulted in the deaths of 40 civilians and left more than 33 protesters injured.
The JAAC has also appealed to the United Nations Human Rights Council and international rights organisations for an immediate and independent investigation into what it described as “unlawful killings”.
INDIA DEMANDS ACTION ON CROSS-BORDER TERRORISM
Jaiswal also used the briefing to call for stronger international action against cross-border terrorism and terrorist networks operating from Pakistan.
“We call upon countries to take strong action against cross-border terrorism and those promoting it. We call upon Pakistan to take strong action against cross-border terrorism and dismantle the terrorist infrastructure operating from its soil,” he said.
INDUS WATERS TREATY TO REMAIN IN ABEYANCE
On the Indus Waters Treaty, Jaiswal said India’s position remained unchanged.
“The treaty is in abeyance and will remain so until Pakistan irrevocably and credibly abjures its support for cross-border terrorism,” he said.
India decided to put the treaty in abeyance as part of a series of diplomatic and economic measures announced after the Pahalgam terror attack in April last year, in which 26 civilians were killed.
India’s latest comments came as it rejected the PoK local body polls as an attempt to create an appearance of legitimacy, while pointing to continuing protests, alleged civilian killings and a security crackdown in the region.
New Delhi also reiterated its demand for action against cross-border terrorism and maintained that the Indus Waters Treaty would remain in abeyance until Pakistan credibly and irrevocably ends its support for such activities.
– Ends
With inputs from PTI
