Srinagar: India has commenced a diplomatic initiative by inviting approximately 20 foreign diplomats from nations including the US, France, and Germany to observe the upcoming elections in the disputed territory of Jammu and Kashmir. This move has been described as an attempt to alter the international understanding of the region’s tense situation.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the meticulously organized two-day visit, which is scheduled to start on September 25, is intended to influence international perspectives and minimize the perception of growing unrest in the area, recognized by the UN as disputed.
The initiative has been met with skepticism and opposition from several quarters. A diplomat from one of the P5 countries has expressed frustration over India’s Ministry of External Affairs for previously denying requests to visit the region, while another declined the invitation citing scheduling issues. Critics argue that the visit is designed to project a misleading sense of normalcy in Jammu and Kashmir, particularly after the revocation of its special status in 2019.
Observers are questioning the legitimacy of the elections, pointing out that numerous local Kashmiris, including political leaders and civil society members, remain imprisoned, effectively silencing dissent. Furthermore, concerns have been raised about the limited access granted to diplomats during their visit, which some have labeled as a “guided tour.”
The exclusion of the Canadian High Commission from the list of invitees has also sparked debates about the criteria used for extending invitations to this event. This is not the first instance of such a diplomatic tour; a similar visit was organized in 2020 after the repeal of Article 370, aimed at demonstrating peace and development in the region.
However, the international community remains wary about the actual situation on the ground, especially in light of ongoing violence and the suppression of Kashmiri identity and rights. The upcoming visit is being scrutinized by global observers and local Kashmiri leaders alike, who insist that the planned elections cannot substitute for the plebiscite promised by the UN to determine the future political status of Jammu and Kashmir.
Source: Kashmir Media Service