Srinagar: The All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) has publicly criticized the elections overseen by the BJP government in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, labeling them as a pretense and inadequate compared to a UN-backed plebiscite aimed at resolving the region’s future.

According to Kashmir Media Service, APHC spokesperson Advocate Abdul Rashid Minhas stressed the immediate necessity for a special UN envoy for Kashmir during a recent statement. He highlighted the potential dangers of the ongoing conflict and the aggressive political stances of the BJP and RSS in the nuclear-sensitive area, warning of the catastrophic risks of continuing without intervention. “Any unintentional spark could lead South Asia to the brink of nuclear disaster if the BJP’s Hindutva agenda continues unchecked,” he stated.

The statement further criticized the conditions under which the current elections are being conducted, with over one million Indian troops creating a coercive environment that turns polling stations into virtual prisons. Minhas dismissed the elections as irrelevant to the Kashmiri populace, referencing UN resolutions 91 and 122, which assert that such elections cannot substitute for a plebiscite.

The APHC’s call for action includes demands for the cessation of human rights abuses, the repeal of stringent laws, and the release of detained political figures and activists. They advocate for a peaceful resolution to the Kashmir issue through dialogue involving all stakeholders.