Foreign diplomats to witness elections in Jammu and Kashmir

A group of foreign diplomats will be visiting Jammu and Kashmir later this week, to witness first-hand the ongoing elections in the union territory. The visit, organised by the Indian government, is part of a broader diplomatic initiative to showcase democratic processes in the region following the significant political changes that took place in 2019-removal of Article 370.

The Legislative Assembly elections are seen as significant, as they are the first since the removal of special status granted under Article 370 of the Indian constitution, & the bifurcation of the state into two separate union territories—Ladakh and Jammu & Kashmir.

The elections will be undertaken in three phases, from September 18 till October 1, 2024. The first phase involved voting for 24 out of the 90 assembly constituencies and saw significant voter turnout. The visiting diplomats will arrive in J&K as the Union Territory gets ready for the second phase of voting, scheduled for October 25.

Add WION as a Preferred Source

Not the first timeIndia has taken foreign diplomats to the region. India organised several visits of foreign envoys to Jammu and Kashmir after removal of the special status, half a decade ago. The visits were aimed at demonstrating that the region was moving towards normalcy and development.