SRINAGAR: India has extended invitations to about 20 foreign diplomats from prominent countries, including the US, Germany and France to observe the contentious elections in Jammu and Kashmir.
The visit, scheduled for September 25, is seen as an attempt to influence international opinion and minimize concerns over rising tensions in in the UN-recognized disputed region. A diplomat from a P5 country strongly criticized India’s previous refusals for diplomats to visit the disputed region. Some diplomats declined the invitation while others raised concerns about limited access during the trip.
Analysts argue that the visit is aimed at portraying a false sense of normalcy, especially after the revocation of Jammu & Kashmir’s special status in 2019. The experts questioned the validity of elections, adding the UN resolutions call for a plebiscite to determine the territory’s future, emphasizing that elections cannot replace this pledge. They said that the UN resolutions clearly state that elections cannot substitute for resolving the dispute of Kashmir.
World Remains Skeptical About India’s Intentions in Kashmir
The critics also counter the credibility of polls as thousands of Kashmiris, including political leaders, youth, clerics, women, human rights defenders, lawyers, and journalists, are jailed, silencing their voices. Diplomats will have limited access during their visit, described by some as a “guided tour.”
The Canadian High Commissioner was notably excluded from the invitation, raising serious questions regarding the selection criteria. This is not the first time New Delhi has arranged such a visit. In 2020, India’s government took foreign diplomats to the occupied region following the revocation of Article 370, aiming to falsely stage the territory’s progress. However, world remains skeptical regarding India’s intentions particularly when Kashmiris’ identity and rights have been snatched for political gains.
Western media reported that despite claims of normalcy, the region continues to witness increased violence. The experts urged the international community to look beyond the orchestrated tour and consider the complexities of the occupied territory’s situation.
The visit has also been criticized by Kashmiri leaders, who argue that elections cannot replace the UN-promised plebiscite to determine the region’s political future.
