Khawaja Asif Defence minister rejects India’s remarks on Kashmir, warns against regional escalation

Khawaja Asif has rejected recent remarks by India’s defence minister, saying New Delhi cannot change internationally recognised legal realities through political statements.

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In a post on X, Khawaja Asif said the Indian minister’s comments attempted to distort established legal facts. He added that such rhetoric would neither change the status of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) nor promote regional peace.

The defence minister reiterated that Jammu and Kashmir remains an internationally recognised disputed territory. He said the dispute must be resolved under relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions and according to the wishes of the Kashmiri people.

Moreover, Khawaja Asif rejected India’s allegations against Pakistan. He claimed the accusations lacked credibility and accused India of pursuing policies that undermine regional stability.

He also warned that irresponsible statements from Indian leaders could increase tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours. However, he stressed that Pakistan remains committed to peace and dialogue.

At the same time, Khawaja Asif said Pakistan would firmly defend its sovereignty, territorial integrity and national security.

Finally, he alleged that India’s recent rhetoric sought to divert attention from its domestic political challenges, public unrest and what he described as Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s divisive governance.