Pak blames India for POK poll protests, alleges 'Operation Sindoor 2.0' plot

Rana Sanaullah alleged that protests and boycott calls in POK elections were aimed at advancing "Operation Sindoor 2.0". His remarks came as PML-N took a strong lead despite unrest.The polls in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir has been marred with violent protests and clashes. (Reuters Photo)Pakistan has accused India of attempting to destabilise Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoJK), with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's adviser Rana Sanaullah alleging that protests against the ongoing Legislative Assembly elections were aimed at advancing what he described as "Operation Sindoor 2.0."Sanaullah, however, did not produce any evidence to support his allegation.Speaking in an interview with Samaa TV, Sanaullah alleged that the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), which has led the protests and called for a boycott of the polls, was working to prevent the elections from taking place."JAAC's only demand was to prevent elections from taking place. Why not? Because someone behind the scenes has an agenda to prevent elections," he said. When the anchor asked whose agenda he was referring to, Sanaullah replied, "The Sindoor 2 supporters have an agenda to prevent elections."Escalating the allegation further, he claimed that conducting the elections had defeated "Operation Sindoor 2.0." "Without this election, the Operation Sindoor 2.0 agenda would have been successful if this election had not taken place," Sanaullah said.The remarks come as Pakistan's ruling Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) has established a commanding lead in the POK Assembly elections despite weeks of violent protests that have led to the deaths of 40 people.According to election officials, candidates backed by former prime minister Nawaz Sharif have won 24 of the 34 seats declared so far, putting the party on course to form the next regional government after a decade.Polling is being conducted in three phases, with voting for the remaining 11 seats scheduled for August 10.Sanaullah's remarks come just days after India dismissed the POK Assembly elections as a "complete farce."On Tuesday, the Ministry of External Affairs accused Islamabad of attempting to legitimise its control over the region through what it described as a sham electoral exercise.Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the polls could not conceal the "public protests and wanton killings by Pakistani forces," adding that "such hollow exercises cannot hide reality."India also urged the international community to hold Pakistan accountable for alleged human rights violations in the territory.- EndsPublished By: Karishma Saurabh KalitaPublished On: Aug 6, 2026 11:25 IST