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Gilgit-Baltistan Polls 2026: Everything You Need to Know About India's Objection

  • By Thetripurapost web Desk, Islamabad
  • Jun 06, 2026
  • 109

India has strongly objected to the assembly elections being conducted in Gilgit-Baltistan, a region administered by Pakistan Government of Gilgit-Baltistan but claimed by India as part of the former princely state of Jammu and Kashmir. Ahead of the June 7 polls, the Ministry of External Affairs reiterated that Pakistan has no legal authority to hold elections in territories that India considers its own.

In a statement issued on Friday, the MEA asserted that the entire Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, including Gilgit-Baltistan, remain an integral and inalienable part of India. The ministry stated that political or administrative actions undertaken by Pakistan in these areas cannot alter the status of the territory.

The election will cover 24 assembly constituencies spread across 10 districts of Gilgit-Baltistan. India has consistently opposed political processes initiated by Pakistan in the region, maintaining that the territory remains under illegal occupation.

The upcoming vote is the first assembly election in Gilgit-Baltistan since November 2020, when the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) secured victory and formed the government. The five-year tenure of the assembly concluded in November 2025.

Fresh elections were originally expected shortly after the completion of the term. However, severe winter conditions and administrative challenges delayed the process. Heavy snowfall and difficult terrain frequently disrupt transportation links across the mountainous region, complicating election arrangements.

Consequently, authorities rescheduled the polls for June 7, 2026.

Gilgit-Baltistan's Political Evolution

Gilgit-Baltistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), known in Pakistan as Azad Jammu and Kashmir, function under separate administrative structures. While PoK has its own constitution, president, prime minister, and legislative assembly, Gilgit-Baltistan historically remained under direct federal administration.

For decades after 1947, the territory lacked provincial status and had limited political representation. In 2009, Pakistan introduced the Gilgit-Baltistan Empowerment and Self-Governance Order, paving the way for the region's first elected assembly and local government.

Although local institutions were established, key powers remained concentrated with Pakistan's federal government. Subsequently, the Gilgit-Baltistan Order 2018 expanded the authority of the regional assembly and chief minister. The June 2026 polls will be the second election conducted under this framework.

PoK Elections Scheduled for July 27

Following the Gilgit-Baltistan polls, assembly elections in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir are scheduled for July 27. The PoK Assembly comprises 53 seats, including 45 directly elected positions and eight reserved seats for women, technocrats, and religious scholars.

The previous election, held in 2021, saw PTI emerge victorious with 25 seats. Sardar Abdul Qayyum Niazi subsequently became prime minister. Political developments in Pakistan later influenced the region, particularly after the collapse of former Prime Minister Imran Khan's government in 2022.

Niazi resigned in May 2022 and was succeeded by Sardar Tanveer Ilyas. However, Ilyas was disqualified by the PoK High Court in April 2023, leading to another leadership change.

Chaudhry Anwarul Haq later assumed office and continues to lead the government with support from multiple political parties, including the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) and the Pakistan Peoples Party.

Economic Protests and Public Unrest

PoK witnessed widespread demonstrations during 2024 over inflation, electricity tariffs, and rising food prices. Several protests turned violent, prompting Pakistan's federal government to announce subsidy packages and financial relief measures aimed at easing public dissatisfaction.

24 Jammu & Kashmir Assembly Seats Remain Vacant

Following the reorganization of Jammu and Kashmir in 2019, India's delimitation exercise reserved 24 seats in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly for territories presently under Pakistani administration, including Gilgit-Baltistan and PoK. As elections cannot currently be conducted in these constituencies, all 24 seats remain vacant.

For more updates on Gilgit-Baltistan elections, India-Pakistan relations, Jammu & Kashmir developments and South Asian geopolitics, follow The Tripura Post or comprehensive coverage and breaking news.