India Allows Diplomats To Observe First Elections In Kashmir In 10 Years

Photo: Reuters/Sanna Irshad Mattoo Tpx

SRINAGAR, (REUTERS) – Foreign diplomats from 15 countries were allowed to observe local elections in India’s Jammu and Kashmir on September 25, as New Delhi highlighted the first vote in a decade.

It was the first time India has invited foreign diplomats to witness voting in the region, which Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government stripped of its partial autonomy five years ago, though Delhi has hosted similar trips on other occasions and a G20 meeting on tourism there last year.

More than 9 million voters are eligible to choose members for the region’s 90-seat legislature in the three-phase election, the second phase of which was underway on September 25. This vote is the first in the region since 2014.

The visitors included diplomats from embassies of the United States, Mexico, Singapore, Spain and South Korea, among others, officials in Srinagar and New Delhi said. They visited polling stations across the Muslim-majority Kashmir Valley.

“It is a rare opportunity to come to Kashmir and see the electoral process in action and see democracy. It looks very smooth, everything is very professional,” said Jorgan K Andrews, deputy chief of mission at the U.S. Embassy.

Modi’s opponents said the visit by diplomats was not necessary.

“When foreign governments comment (on Kashmir), the government of India says this is an internal matter for India, and now suddenly they want foreign observers to come and look at our elections,” said Omar Abdullah, leader of the local National Conference party.

“Jammu and Kashmir elections are an internal matter for us, and we do not need their certificate,” he said, after casting his vote.

In the past, pro-independence militants have targeted elections in Kashmir, and voter turnout has been largely weak. The territory, however, recorded its highest turnout in 35 years in national elections held in April and May, with a 58.46% participation rate.