MEA says PoJK elections ‘cosmetic exercise’ to hide ‘illegal occupation’, calls J&K integral part

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India rejected the reported elections in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, calling the exercise a “cosmetic electoral exercise” and reiterating New Delhi’s position that Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh, including areas under Pakistan’s control, are an integral part of India. Jaiswal also rejected Pakistan’s response to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s Kargil Vijay Diwas remarks, describing Islamabad’s statement as “baseless and hollow.”