‘Manipulated elections no replacement for Kashmiris right to plebiscite’

Islamabad:The ongoing elections in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJ&K), marred by manipulations, cannot replace the long-promised plebiscite that Kashmiris rightfully deserve.

While the need for local representation to address daily governance and security challenges is pressing, these elections serve only to entrench India’s control over the region. For Pakistan to move forward, a more strategic and unified approach is essential – one rooted in diplomatic engagement and a sustained commitment to the just cause of Kashmiri self-determination.

The views were expressed during a roundtable discussion titled “Governance or Control: Analysing the 2024 ‘Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir’ Assembly Elections,” organiSed by the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) here. The session, moderated by Ambassador (r) Syed Abrar Hussain, vice-chairman IPS, was addressed by Khalid Rahman, chairman IPS, Prof. Nazir Hussain, former dean School of Politics and International Relations, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Farzana Yaqoob, former minister of AJK and IPS research associate, and Dr. Amna Mahmood, professor, Faculty of Social Sciences, International Islamic University, Islamabad.

The speakers noted that Kashmiri youth, once hopeful, now face increasing marginalization as India tightens its grip on the region. Despite their historic boycott of the electoral process, Kashmiris now find political engagement to be an administrative necessity, driven by the need to address daily governance and security issues. This, according to them, has been accompanied by an alarming transformation as India’s control over Jammu and Kashmir has shifted from mere governance to an overt exercise of power, using elections as a tool to legitimise its hold on the region. By pushing these elections, India seeks to sidestep the plebiscite that Kashmiris not only deserve but are entitled to under international law. By hosting foreign delegates, India seeks to create a façade of conducting free and fair elections. However, pre-poll manipulations – such as the disproportionate allocation of seats between the Jammu and Kashmir regions – have already compromised the integrity of the process.