Overview
- India lodged a strong protest on June 5, 2026, objecting to Pakistan’s plan to hold “general elections” in Gilgit‑Baltistan and reiterating that Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh and Gilgit‑Baltistan are integral parts of India.
- Pakistan’s Foreign Office on June 5 rejected New Delhi’s objections as baseless and repeated Islamabad’s call for implementation of UN resolutions and a plebiscite as the route to settle Kashmir.
- Pakistan is proceeding with elections for the 33‑member Gilgit‑Baltistan Assembly on June 7, 2026, after a winter postponement, and has deployed thousands of security personnel while senior officials reviewed preparations.
- New Delhi accuses the vote of trying to obscure alleged human‑rights abuses, political repression and economic exploitation under Pakistani control, while Islamabad accuses India of systematic rights violations in Indian‑administered Kashmir.
- The dispute revives long‑running 1947‑era sovereignty claims and has spilled into the United Nations, with exchanges at the General Assembly that could affect regional projects such as CPEC and raise the risk of further diplomatic friction.