New Delhi, June 5 -- India on Friday lodged a strong protest with Pakistan regarding the latter's plans to hold "General Elections" for the "Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly", in the Indian territories illegally and forcibly occupied by Pakistan, scheduled for 7 June 2026, as per a statement by the Ministry of External Affairs.

The Government of India reiterated its well-known position that the entire Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, including the so-called "Gilgit-Baltistan", are integral and inalienable parts of India as a result of complete, legal and irrevocable accession of Jammu & Kashmir to India in 1947.

The Government of India further emphasised that such endeavours by Pakistan cannot mask the underlying issues of grav...