By Admin 
A statement by Pakistan Defense Minister Khawaja Asif has deepened the political dispute between Pakistan and Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK). PoK Prime Minister Faisal Mumtaz Rathore made a scathing attack on Asif and said that the people of Jammu and Kashmir do not need anyone’s approval to prove their identity. He has also demanded an apology from the Defense Minister for his statement.
What did Khwaja Asif say?
The controversy started when Khawaja Asif said in a TV interview that the people living in Rawalakot and Mirpur of PoK are ‘not real Kashmiris’. After his statement, political controversy started between Pakistan and PoK.
PoK PM’s counterattack
Faisal Mumtaz Rathore wrote on social media platform He said that such statements are creating more divisions in the society instead of uniting people.
People of Jammu and Kashmir do not need validation of their identity from Defense Minister of Pakistan. @KhawajaMAsif or anyone else for that matter. Boomers such as him and their antics are creating divisions instead of bringing people closer.
After noticing backlash on his…
— Faisal Mumtaz Rathore (@PMofAJK) June 26, 2026
‘Apologise for the statement’
Rathore said that when criticism of Khawaja Asif’s statement started, he started raising questions on the PoK government to divert attention from the issue. He said that if the Defense Minister has dignity then he should apologize for his original statement and not make the PoK government a scapegoat.
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Also answered the questions raised on governance
While defending his statement, Khawaja Asif had also raised questions on the governance system of PoK. To this Rathore replied that if the Defense Minister has doubts about the functioning of his government then he can ask the top leadership of Pakistan. He claimed that his government has done good work.
Bilawal Bhutto also criticized
Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari also criticized Khawaja Asif on this controversy. He said in Parliament that senior ministers should speak very carefully on sensitive issues like Kashmir. Appealing to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to control his ministers, he said, ‘Control your ministers.’
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refused to apologize
However, despite the growing controversy, Khawaja Asif is not ready to back down from his statement. He clearly said that he will not apologize. He says, ‘I had not apologized before and I will not apologize even now.’
Tension increased between Pakistan and PoK
The public attack on Pakistan’s Defense Minister by the Prime Minister of PoK is being considered as an indication that differences between the federal government of Pakistan and the PoK administration have now started coming to the fore. This controversy has also exposed the growing political tension between the two.