Faisal Mumtaz Rathore, the self-styled "prime minister" of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), on Friday criticised Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif over his reported remarks questioning the Kashmiri identity of residents in parts of the region. Rathore said the people of Jammu and Kashmir did not require validation of their identity from Pakistani leaders and called on Asif to apologise for his comments.

The controversy stems from a reported television interview in which Asif allegedly said that residents of Rawalakot and Mirpur in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir were "not proper Kashmiris". The reported remarks triggered criticism, although they could not be independently verified. Rathore responded through a post on X, accusing the defence minister of creating unnecessary divisions instead of fostering unity among Kashmiris.

"People of Jammu and Kashmir do not need validation of their identity from Defence Minister Khawaja Asif or anybody else for that matter," Rathore wrote. He further remarked that "boomers such as him and their antics are creating divisions instead of bringing people closer." Rathore also alleged that Asif attempted to shift the focus after facing criticism over the reported comments.

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Referring to Asif's reported clarification, Rathore said the minister had sought to justify his statement by arguing that Kashmiri identity was defined by years of struggle and sacrifice rather than birth certificates. Asif also reportedly cited governance issues in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir while defending his position, according to Rathore.

Responding to those claims, Rathore defended his administration's governance and urged the Pakistani minister to address the controversy directly. "Sir, ask your higher-ups and they'll tell you how well we've governed. A more dignified act would be to address the elephant in the room and apologise for your original remarks instead of scapegoating our governance," he said. The exchange has added to the political debate within Pakistan over the status, identity and governance of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

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