Islamabad: The announcement of assembly elections in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) has been criticized as a superficial exercise that fails to address the real concerns and aspirations of the local Kashmiri population, amidst ongoing military presence.

According to Kashmir Media Service, the objective behind conducting these elections, as stated by critics, is to legitimize India’s control over the region rather than to facilitate genuine democratic processes. These elections are perceived as a strategy to install puppet leaderships that align with Indian policies, thereby giving the military occupation a veneer of democracy.

Critics argue that the repeated staging of elections in IIOJK is an attempt to mislead the international community about the true state of affairs in the region. The Modi administration’s insistence on holding these polls is seen as an effort to project a sense of normalcy and suppress the indigenous freedom movement. Furthermore, the elections are viewed as a tactic to divert attention from the Kashmiris’ ongoing struggle for self-determination, underscored by their demand for a UN-sanctioned plebiscite rather than orchestrated electoral events.

The narrative strongly emphasizes that such polls cannot alter the disputed status of Kashmir nor fulfill the Kashmiris’ right to self-determination, a sentiment rooted deeply among the local population despite the external political maneuvers.