India has raised a sharp objection to the legislative assembly elections being held in Gilgit-Baltistan, a region currently under Pakistan’s administrative control but claimed by New Delhi as part of the Union Territory of Ladakh. The voting is scheduled for June 7 for 24 assembly seats across 10 districts.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated that Pakistan’s decision to conduct elections in the region “illegally and forcibly occupied” by it is unacceptable. According to the MEA, such political exercises cannot alter the legal and constitutional status of the territory.

India has consistently maintained that the entire region of Jammu and Kashmir, including Gilgit-Baltistan, is an integral and inalienable part of the country.

Elections Under Existing Framework

The upcoming polls are being held more than five years after the previous elections conducted in November 2020, when the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) emerged as the dominant political force. The current assembly completed its five-year term in November 2025, but elections were delayed due to harsh weather conditions and logistical challenges in the mountainous region.

Gilgit-Baltistan operates under a separate administrative structure compared to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). While PoK has its own constitution and political setup, Gilgit-Baltistan has historically remained under federal control from Islamabad with limited autonomy.

Governance Structure Explained

The region’s governance framework was first formalised through the Gilgit-Baltistan Empowerment and Self-Governance Order of 2009, which introduced an elected assembly. Later, the Gilgit-Baltistan Order 2018 expanded the powers of the local government, though key authority continues to rest with Pakistan’s federal administration.

The current election is the second held under the 2018 framework, highlighting the evolving but still limited self-governance structure in the region.

Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir Elections Ahead

Separate from Gilgit-Baltistan, elections in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) are scheduled for July 27. The PoK Legislative Assembly consists of 53 seats, including reserved categories for women and technocrats.

In the 2021 elections, PTI secured a majority, but political instability followed after changes in Pakistan’s federal leadership. Subsequent leadership transitions and internal political realignments have continued to shape governance in the region.

India’s Constitutional Position

India also reiterated that 24 assembly seats in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly are reserved for areas currently under Pakistan’s control, including Gilgit-Baltistan and PoK, as per the delimitation framework introduced after the 2019 reorganisation of Jammu and Kashmir.

Since India does not exercise administrative control over these areas, elections are not conducted there and the seats remain vacant.

Geopolitical Context

The issue remains a sensitive point in India-Pakistan relations, with New Delhi consistently opposing any political or electoral activity in the region conducted by Islamabad. India maintains that such exercises have no legal standing and do not affect sovereignty claims.

J&K'S MONTH-LONG DRUG CRACKDOWN NETS 733 ARRESTS, DEMOLISHES 47 HOUSES

Bulldozers tear down accused peddlers' homes; 114 chemist shops lose licenses in 100-day anti-narcotics drive

Jammu and Kashmir authorities have intensified their war on narcotics, with a 28-day crackdown resulting in 733 arrests linked to drug trafficking networks across the region. The campaign, spearheaded under Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha's 100-day anti-drug initiative, has extended beyond conventional enforcement into property demolition and financial asset seizure.

The scale of the operation underscores the government's aggressive approach. Bulldozers razed 47 houses belonging to accused traffickers, while authorities suspended 373 driving licences to restrict the movement of suspects. The action widened further into the pharmaceutical supply chain—114 chemist shop licences were revoked for rule violations, potentially cutting off an avenue for drug diversion.

In a parallel move reflecting the digital dimension of the drive, authorities deactivated 180 Aadhaar cards linked to individuals involved in trafficking networks. Officials said the measure aims to disrupt financial transactions and formal identity documentation used by smugglers.

The government has since appealed to the public to report any narcotic-related activity, suggesting operational reliance on intelligence from local communities.

The crackdown's reach extended to Chandigarh, where J&K Police attached property valued at approximately ₹93 lakh under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. The attachment connects to an ongoing case at Bagh-e-Bahu police station in Jammu, originating from a January arrest.

On January 14, 2026, police arrested Arun Singh, a resident of Rajiv Nagar in Narwal, during routine naka checking. Officers recovered 5.61 grams of heroin from his possession. The discovery triggered a formal case registration under NDPS provisions, followed by investigation that eventually traced assets under Singh's control to Chandigarh.

Officials framed the 28-day push as part of a structured 100-day campaign to systematically dismantle drug trafficking infrastructure in the region. The multi-pronged approach—combining arrests, property demolition, licence suspension, and asset seizure—reflects authorities' intent to strike at economic incentives driving the trade.

Chemist shop licences have emerged as a focal point, with 114 suspensions indicating that authorities view pharmaceutical retail as vulnerable to exploitation for diverting controlled substances into illicit channels. Initial reports from ground-level enforcement teams suggest this vector has been a recurring vulnerability.

Authorities have stopped short of detailing conviction-to-arrest ratios or providing timelines for trial processing of the 733 arrested individuals. Officials stressed the importance of public cooperation in reporting narcotics-related activity, hinting that intelligence gathering will remain central to sustaining the crackdown's momentum.

The demolition of 47 houses has drawn attention in local circles, though officials clarified the action falls within existing legal frameworks permitting property destruction linked to criminal proceeds. The broader message—that involvement in trafficking invites permanent economic and administrative consequences—appears deliberate.

As the 100-day initiative continues, observers note the campaign's intensity may reflect both the scale of the narcotics problem in J&K and the government's political commitment to demonstrating visible anti-crime action.