India lodges 'protest' with Islamabad over Pakistan top court's order on Gilgit-Baltistan

India demarched senior Pakistan diplomat and lodged a strong protest to Pakistan against Supreme Court of Pakistan order on the so-called "Gilgit-Baltistan”, read a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs.

It was clearly conveyed that the entire Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, including the areas of Gilgit and Baltistan, are an integral part of India by virtue of its fully legal and irrevocable accession.

"The Government of Pakistan or its judiciary has no locus standi on territories illegally and forcibly occupied by it. India completely rejects such actions and continued attempts to bring material changes in Pakistan occupied areas of the Indian territory of Jammu & Kashmir. Instead, Pakistan should immediately vacate all areas under its illegal occupation," read the statement.

"It was further conveyed that such actions can neither hide the illegal occupation of parts of Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh by Pakistan nor the grave human rights violations, exploitation and denial of freedom to the people residing in Pakistan occupied territories for the past seven decades," it said.

The Ministry said the Government of India’s position in the matter is reflected in the resolution passed by the Parliament in 1994 by consensus.

The Pakistan Supreme Court last week allowed its government to hold elections in September in Gilgit-Baltistan region and setting up a caretaker government during the interim period. 

The order reportedly mentioned that the region came within its domain.