Srinagar: In the lead-up to what has been termed by local leaders as “so-called elections” in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, civil society activists and experts have labeled the process as inauthentic and coerced, occurring under a heavy military presence.

According to Kashmir Media Service, with significant Hurriyat leaders imprisoned or detained, such as APHC Chairman Masarrat Aalam Butt and others who are currently in New Delhi’s Tihar Jail, the legitimacy of the elections has been called into question. Critics argue that the elections are an attempt by India to legitimize its control and mislead the international community about the situation on the ground.

Activists have expressed that the candidates participating in the elections do not represent the Kashmiri people’s aspirations, but rather support India’s broader Hindutva and occupation agenda. In contrast, the APHC is highlighted as a true representative of the Kashmiri desires, striving to resolve the Kashmir dispute in accordance with UN resolutions.

Despite the suppression, Kashmiris remain steadfast in rejecting the elections and continue their struggle for a UN-backed plebiscite, rather than accepting what they view as a staged electoral process.