Srinagar, July 29 -- The recent elections in Pakistan-administered Kashmir (referred to as Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, or PoJK, in India) have once again brought the region's political and security challenges into sharp focus. Reports that around 20 people were killed during election-related violence have raised serious concerns about public safety, electoral integrity and the ability of democratic institutions to function in a peaceful environment. Regardless of political context, the loss of life during an election is a grave development that inevitably raises questions about the conditions under which democratic rights are exercised.Democracy is measured not merely by the conduct of elections but by the confidence citizens hav...