Overview

• The Indian Supreme Court upheld the 2019 decision by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government to end the special status of Jammu and Kashmir, a move that has heightened tensions with Pakistan.
• The court's ruling legitimizes the reorganization of the region into two territories, Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, both now directly ruled by the central government.
• Pakistan has vehemently opposed the decision, citing international law and UN resolutions, and reaffirming its support for the Kashmiri right to self-determination.
• The court's decision is expected to boost the electoral prospects of Modi's governing Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party in national polls next year.
• The court has ordered the country’s election commission to hold legislative polls in the region by September 2024.