'Not Proper Kashmiris': How Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif’s PoK Slur Validates India’s Stance | Exclusive

Last Updated:June 23, 2026, 17:40 IST

Intelligence sources say Khawaja Asif’s statements are a sensational, self-inflicted blow to Pakistan's international lobbying efforts

In a major diplomatic and political embarrassment for Islamabad, Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has sparked widespread fury by publicly declaring that the residents of Rawalakot and Mirpur in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) are “not proper Kashmiris". The remarks, delivered during a period of intense civil unrest across the occupied territories, have effectively stripped away Pakistan’s long-standing geopolitical narrative regarding regional unity. Top Indian intelligence sources state that Asif’s public dismissal of PoK residents validates New Delhi’s historic position that Islamabad’s presence in the region is an artificial, military imposition rather than an organic partnership.

The controversy erupted after the Defence Minister argued that the populace of Rawalakot and Mirpur cannot claim a true Kashmiri identity primarily because they converse in the Potohari and Pahari dialects rather than the traditional Kashmiri language. The statement triggered an immediate and volatile backlash on social media networks and on the streets of PoK, with critics, local leaders, and political opponents accusing the federal government of actively undermining the cultural, regional, and historical identity of populations living under Pakistani administrative control. As Asif blamed New Delhi for the ongoing protests in PoK, India said the allegations were a desperate attempt to divert attention from Islamabad’s own failures and human rights abuses.

Intelligence Sources: Minister’s Remarks Validate Indian Stance

According to top Indian intelligence and diplomatic strategists, Khawaja Asif’s statements are a sensational, self-inflicted blow to Pakistan’s international lobbying efforts. For over seven decades, Islamabad has attempted to project a singular, homogenised Kashmiri narrative on global platforms to justify its control over the region. However, by weaponising linguistic differences to alienate massive population hubs like Mirpur and Rawalakot, the Pakistani establishment has accidentally admitted that its administration operates as an external political occupier forcing cultural conformity.

Indian strategic experts point out that ethnic and regional identity across Jammu and Kashmir cannot be minimised by simple linguistic reductionism. The sudden unravelling of this narrative provides substantial ammunition for India on the international stage, confirming that the diverse residents of PoK possess distinct, historic identities that do not align with the narrow parameters set by Islamabad.

Civil Turmoil in PoK Reaches Boiling Point

The Defence Minister’s provocative remarks come at a highly sensitive time, as Rawalakot and surrounding areas are already engulfed in severe political unrest. Local citizens have been staging massive demonstrations against soaring inflation, state-sanctioned human rights abuses, and the systematic denial of fundamental constitutional rights by the Pakistani establishment.

Rather than addressing the deep economic grievances of the local population, the federal government’s decision to question the very identity of its subjects has added fuel to the fire. By dismissing millions of residents as outsiders based on their spoken tongue, Islamabad has severely fractured its own domestic credibility. For India, this open admission from the highest levels of the Pakistani cabinet serves as concrete proof that PoK remains an unresolved, illegally occupied territory where the local will is suppressed through structural discrimination.

About the Author

Manoj Gupta

Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18

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