Jitendra Singh says Gilgit-Baltistan polls "smacks mischief"

Reiterating India's objection towards elections in Gilgit-Baltistan, Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) Dr. Jitendra Singh on Tuesday said it smacks certain amount of mischief on the part of Pakistan.

"As far as India is concerned, its position with erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir is very clear. As far as the Gilgit-Baltistan area is concerned, as per the Pakistan Constitution itself, it doesn't form a part of Pakistan," said Dr. Singh.

"So given that kind of a situation, it is not only objectionable, but it also smacks of certain amount of mischief on the part of Pakistan," he added

India had earlier flagged its objections to elections being held in Gilgit-Baltistan, which forms a part of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, and termed the move as an attempt to camouflage the 'forcible and illegal' occupation of the region.

"The entire state of Jammu and Kashmir, which includes the regions of Gilgit-Baltistan, is an integral part of India. The election in Gilgit-Baltistan on June 8, under the so called Gilgit-Baltistan

Empowerment and Self-Government Order, is an attempt by Pakistan to camouflage its forcible and illegal occupation of the regions. We are concerned by the continued efforts by Pakistan to deny the people of the region their political rights and the efforts being made to absorb these territories," Ministry of External Affairs official spokesperson Vikas Swarup told media here.

Pakistan had earlier announced that legislative elections in Gilgit-Baltistan will be held on June 8.