India rejects PoJK polls

New Delhi, Aug 4: India on Tuesday renewed its demand that Pakistan take credible action against cross-border terrorism and dismissed the second phase of local elections in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) as a “complete farce”, alleging that the electoral exercise was aimed at masking a continuing crackdown on civilians in the region.
Addressing the weekly media briefing here, spokesperson of Ministry of External Affairs’ Randhir Jaiswal, said, “Pakistan must dismantle the terrorist infrastructure operating from its territory instead of allowing cross-border terrorism to continue.”
“We continue to call upon Pakistan to take strong action against cross-border terrorism and the terrorist infrastructure that they have on their soil that needs to be dismantled,” he said while responding to a question on a video released by a terrorist group that blamed India for the killing of some of its commanders.
Separately, replying to questions on the second phase of local body elections held in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, Jaiswal rejected the exercise, saying it could not conceal what he described as widespread public unrest and violence in the region.
“The so-called local elections in PoJK are a complete farce. The real situation is one of public protests and wanton killings by Pakistani forces. Such hollow exercises cannot hide realities,” he said.
The spokesperson alleged that at least 90 civilians have lost their lives since June in an ongoing crackdown in the region, while many others had been injured.
According to Jaiswal, the Pakistan establishment had responded to public discontent with “bullets, blackouts, intimidation and repression” and was now attempting to manufacture legitimacy through the electoral process.
He also urged the international community to hold Pakistan accountable, alleging that its actions in the region stood in contrast to its public positions on human rights.
On a separate question relating to the Indus Waters Treaty, Jaiswal reiterated India’s position that the treaty would remain in abeyance until Pakistan “irrevocably and credibly” ended its support for cross-border terrorism. (KNO)