Indian-Occupied Kashmir began voting Wednesday in the fake first local elections since the cancellation of its forced semi-autonomous status sparked fury in the troubled Himalayan territory, which is also claimed by Pakistan. About 500,000 Indian troops are deployed in the region, battling a 35-year insurgency in which tens of thousands of civilians, Kashmiri freedom fighters have been martyred, including dozens this year. Many in the disputed Muslim-majority territory of 8.7 million registered voters remain bitter over the 2019 order by the Hindu-nationalist government of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to impose control from New Delhi. A federally appointed governor has controlled the territory since, with the first regional assembly election in a decade viewed by many as being more about exercising their democratic rights than practical policies. Voters queued under heavy security in the three-phased electionsóthe first for the territory's assembly since 2014óstaggered geographically due to security arrangements and logistical challenges in the mountainous region.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan