Khawaja Asif calls for firm response to anti-Pakistan narratives in AJK

In a statement shared on social media, the minister said his recent remarks regarding the situation in AJK were made with honesty

Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif has called for a strong response to what he described as externally influenced anti-Pakistan narratives emerging from Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), stressing that attempts to create divisions between Pakistan and Kashmir would not succeed.

In a statement shared on social media, the minister said his recent remarks regarding the situation in AJK were made with honesty and clarity. He accused certain groups of distorting his comments to serve hidden agendas and mislead the public.

Emphasizing Pakistan’s longstanding support for the Kashmir cause, Khawaja Asif highlighted the sacrifices made by Kashmiris who migrated to Pakistan during the upheavals of 1947, as well as those continuing to endure hardships in Indian-administered Kashmir. He said the struggle of Kashmiris over the past several decades has been marked by sacrifices, imprisonment, and loss of life.

The defence minister stated that Pakistan’s commitment to Kashmir is reflected in the sacrifices of its soldiers and in its continued support for the right to self-determination under relevant United Nations resolutions. He maintained that voices promoting anti-Pakistan sentiments in AJK under the influence of external agendas should be firmly challenged.

Khawaja Asif also urged residents of AJK to recognize the sacrifices made by refugees and Kashmiris living under Indian rule, arguing that overlooking those sacrifices would undermine the broader Kashmir cause. He added that Kashmiri identity is defined not by birthplace alone but by decades of struggle, resilience, and collective sacrifice shared by Kashmiris and Pakistanis alike.