Pakistan’s Foreign Office Criticizes India Over Azad Jammu and Kashmir Elections, Declares India Lacks Standing to Comment.

On Thursday, Pakistan’s Foreign Office (FO) told reporters that India has "neither the standing nor the moral authority" to comment on the elections being held in phases in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK). The statement was made by FO spokesperson Tahir Andrabi during a weekly press briefing. In response to a question about India’s reaction, Andrabi noted that the Indian Ministry of External Affairs had called the AJK elections a "farce" and a "hollow exercise" that could not alter the reality on the ground. Pakistan rejected those remarks as baseless and politically motivated. Andrabi said the AJK elections are being conducted in a "peaceful, transparent and orderly manner", in line with the region’s constitutional and legal framework. He added, "The elections reflect the democratic aspirations and political will of the people of AJK," and that misinformation cannot change the status of the occupied territory. The FO spokesperson linked India’s comments to the August 5, 2019 unilateral actions that he said attempted to alter the internationally recognised disputed status of Jammu and Kashmir. He said those actions violate United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions, international law and India’s own commitments. Andrabi also referred to statements made by India’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar on Youm‑i‑Istehsal, characterising India’s remarks as a "self‑serving eulogy" for its actions. He said a heavy military presence and restrictive laws continue to facilitate demographic change aimed at altering the territory’s Muslim majority. In addition to discussing the AJK polls, the FO spokesperson talked about Pakistan’s ongoing diplomatic engagement to mediate the US‑Iran crisis, particularly in the Strait of Hormuz. He said Pakistan would continue to pursue diplomatic efforts to achieve a comprehensive, just, and lasting resolution, and praised Oman’s contributions to de‑escalation. The FO concluded by calling on India to reverse its illegal actions and to support a peaceful settlement that follows relevant UNSC resolutions and the freely expressed will of the Kashmiri people. Pakistan maintains that the final disposition of Jammu and Kashmir should be determined through "UN‑administered plebiscite" in accordance with UNSC resolutions.