India Rejects NYT Headline Referring to 'Pakistani Kashmir'

The Indian embassy in the United States has formally objected to a headline published by The New York Times that described the Pakistan-administered part of the disputed Kashmir region as 'Pakistani Kashmir.' In a post on social media platform X, the embassy called the headline 'misleading and incorrect.'

According to the embassy, the correct terminology is 'Pakistan-occupied Kashmir' (PoK), as India considers the entire former princely state of Jammu and Kashmir, including areas under Pakistani control, to be an integral part of India. 'There is no Pakistani Kashmir, only Pakistan-occupied Kashmir,' the embassy stated.

The New York Times headline read: 'Clashes Erupt in Pakistani Kashmir as Voting in Local Election Begins.' The article reported that at least 30 people had died in clashes since early June 2026, including protesters, law enforcement personnel, and bystanders, according to local officials and independent estimates.

The protests in PoK have been led by the Joint Awami Action Committee, a coalition of activist groups, over 12 contentious seats in the region's legislative assembly. The group alleges that the establishment manipulates these seats to install a prime minister of its choosing.

India has long maintained that Pakistan's control over parts of Kashmir is illegal. The embassy's statement reaffirmed: 'The Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh have been, are and will always remain an integral and inalienable part of India. Pakistan has illegally occupied parts of these territories and is now using violence against the occupied people.'

The New York Times has not publicly responded to India's objection as of press time.