Pakistan’s Move

• India has conveyed its strong protest to Pakistan over an order by that country’s Supreme Court allowing the conduct of general elections in Gilgit-Baltistan.
• The MEA said Pakistan was told that entire Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, including areas of Gilgit and Baltistan, are an integral part of India and that Islamabad should immediately vacate the areas under its illegal occupation.
• Recently, Pakistan Supreme Court allowed the amendment to the Government of Gilgit-Baltistan Order of 2018 to conduct the general elections in the region.
• The MEA said the government of Pakistan or its judiciary has no locus stand on territories “illegally and forcibly” occupied by it.
• MEA: “India completely rejects such actions and continued attempts to bring material changes in Pakistan occupied areas of the Indian territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Instead, Pakistan should immediately vacate all areas under its illegal occupation”.

India’s Response

• India Included the areas of POK in its forecast to remind Pakistan that Gilgit Baltistan region is an Integral part of India

The UPDATE

• P.O.K. Cannot be seen any more on Google Maps from India.

Line of Control

• Originally known as the Cease-fire Line. It was re-designated as the “LOC” following the Shimla Agreement, which was signed on 3 July 1972
• India constructed a 550 km barrier along the 740 km LOC.

Line of Actual Control

• Formed after the 1962 war
• The entire Sino-Indian border is 4,056 km.