India has strongly dismissed objections raised by Pakistan regarding the Delimitation Bill 2026, warning that it will not tolerate outside interference in its internal affairs. The friction arose due to a provision in the bill that empowers the Election Commission to undertake the delimitation of constituencies in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). Tahir Andrabi, a spokesperson for Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, issued a statement formally opposing the bill, which prompted a swift rebuttal from New Delhi.
During a press briefing in Delhi, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal clarified that India’s administrative and legislative processes are matters of national sovereignty. He emphasized that decisions regarding the restructuring of constituencies are strictly internal and that no other country has the standing to intervene. Jaiswal reiterated that such commentary from Pakistan is unwarranted and irrelevant to India’s domestic legislative actions.
The exchange highlights the ongoing diplomatic tensions between the two neighbors, particularly concerning the status of Kashmir. While Pakistan claims the bill violates international understandings, India remains firm in its stance that the entire region, including PoK, is an integral part of its territory. This diplomatic row comes even as the bill faces significant hurdles within the Indian Parliament, as evidenced by the recent failure of the associated Constitutional Amendment Bill in the Lok Sabha.
