Pakistan's 'Kashmir Card' Returns Amid PoK Unrest, Fazlur Rehman Cites Yasin Malik

Last Updated:June 29, 2026, 13:58 IST

According to Fazlur Rehman, Mushaal Malik, the wife of Yasin Malik - was the first person to contact him regarding the latest developments

Pakistan’s political and religious establishment appears to be stepping up its rhetoric on Kashmir at a time when Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) has witnessed prolonged public anger over governance, inflation and basic civic issues. Amid signs of domestic unrest, top religious leaders have once again brought the Kashmir issue to the forefront, with intelligence sources claiming the move is aimed at redirecting public attention towards India.

The latest development centres on Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, who held a meeting with a large delegation of Kashmiri leaders and used the occasion to reiterate Pakistan’s long-standing position on Kashmir. During the interaction, Fazlur Rehman paid tribute to jailed Kashmiri separatist leader Yasin Malik, describing him as someone who “dedicated his entire life to the freedom of Kashmir."

According to Fazlur Rehman, Mushaal Malik, the wife of Yasin Malik – was the first person to contact him regarding the latest developments. He said a large delegation of Kashmiri leaders later met him and handed over a letter from the Joint Action Committee, seeking his involvement.

While expressing his willingness to support the delegation, the JUI-F chief said he had requested additional time before taking any concrete step. He advised the delegation to postpone its proposed sit-in, saying that although the protest remained intact, no further action should be taken immediately.

“We need to avoid acting purely on emotions and instead resolve the issue with wisdom and intellect," Fazlur Rehman said, adding that the Pakistani government was already engaged in consultations and that it would be prudent to wait for the outcome of those discussions.

Rehman also claimed that he had raised the Kashmir issue in Pakistan’s National Assembly and alleged that India had moved resolutions against Pakistan on international platforms portraying it as an aggressor.

The JUI-F chief further asserted that Kashmiris had historically carried out their political movements under Pakistan’s flag and claimed that funeral processions of those killed in the conflict were often draped in the Pakistani national flag. He also publicly thanked Jamaat-e-Islami chief Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman for visiting him, describing the meeting as significant.

According to top intelligence sources, the renewed emphasis on Kashmir comes as anti-government protests in PoK have increasingly focused on local governance failures and economic hardships rather than India. The sources assess that Pakistan’s traditional strategy in such situations has been to revive the Kashmir narrative to foster national unity against an external adversary.

The intelligence assessment further suggests that invoking figures such as Yasin Malik and deploying influential religious leaders like Maulana Fazlur Rehman is a calculated move by Pakistan’s establishment to shift public discourse from domestic grievances to the perceived threat from India. Leaders such as Fazlur Rehman and the Jamaat-e-Islami leadership possess significant religious and political influence, enabling them to engage local groups and shape public opinion in ways that the military or civilian government may find more difficult.

About the Author

Manoj Gupta

Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18

News world Pakistan's 'Kashmir Card' Returns Amid PoK Unrest, Fazlur Rehman Cites Yasin Malik

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