New Delhi. A group of foreign diplomats will visit Jammu and Kashmir this weekend to witness the ongoing elections in the Union Territory first-hand. The visit, organised by the Indian government, is part of a broader diplomatic initiative to showcase democratic processes in the region following the removal of Article 370 in 2019.
The assembly elections are considered important as they are the first elections since the removal of the special status granted under Article 370 of the Indian Constitution and division of the state into two separate union territories – Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir.
Elections in Jammu and Kashmir will be held in three phases from September 18 to October 1. In the first phase, voting was held for 24 out of 90 assembly constituencies, which saw heavy voter turnout. These diplomats will come to Jammu and Kashmir as the Union Territory is preparing for the second phase of voting on October 25.
This is not the first time India has taken foreign diplomats to the region. India has organised several visits of foreign envoys to Jammu and Kashmir after the special status was revoked half a decade ago. The purpose of these visits was to demonstrate that the region is moving towards normalcy and development.
