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.

Also read: 70 thousand soldiers, pickets in sensitive areas… Security agencies alert for Amarnath Yatra

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.’

Also read: When PM Modi met Pranab Mukherjee after the victory in 2014, the former President asked only one question… Article by Sharmistha Mukherjee

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.

While yesterday in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, slogans were raised for freedom from the occupation of Pakistan and China, today the protesters called Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, Field Marshal Asim Munir, POK Prime Minister Faisal Mumtaz Rathod and President Asif Ali Zardari as Kaladam i.e. terrorists. Also, the leader of Awami Action Committee said that the tribals who had forcibly occupied PoK in 1947 and grabbed the land are also with the PoK protesters today. Addressing the crowd, the Awami Action Committee leader said that this is the first time that Jammu, Gilgit Baltistan and Ladakh are supporting the protesters.

While warning the cruel rule of Pakistan, the leader of Awami Action Committee said that this is not Sindh, Balochistan, D Chowk, this is Kashmir where if a dead body falls, lakhs of people come on the streets. So far 53 people have lost their lives in the ongoing protests in PoK since last Tuesday, but the Rawalakot protesters are standing firm on their demands against the cruel Pakistani government and army and are adopting a rebellious stance against the Pakistani government and army.

Also read: India-Russia Oil: America imposed ban on Russian oil purchase, this European country supported India, Trump will get angry!

Revolt against Pakistani army and government

However, differences are also clearly visible among the leaders of the Awami Action Committee in the rebellion against the Pakistani army and the government, where Sardar Aman Khan and Khwaja Mehran are openly adopting a rebellious attitude and demanding the independence of PoK and have announced an all-out war against the Pakistani army, while Umar Nazir and Shaukat Nawaz Mir are trying to negotiate with the Pakistani government by adopting a soft stance on their demands.

What are the 2 demands of the protesters?

The issue is stuck on two demands of the protesters, first on the 12 so-called refugee seats inside PoK, which Jaanta is demanding to abolish and second, on the oath of the elected leaders of PoK, in which instead of loyalty to Pakistan, Jaanta is demanding that it should be changed to loyalty to the unity of Jammu and Kashmir because PoK is not a part of Pakistan.

Also read: What issues were agreed upon in the deal between Iran and America? Donald Trump said this about nuclear weapons