ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has strongly rejected recent remarks by the Indian defence minister, stating that India cannot alter internationally recognised legal facts through aggressive rhetoric or political pressure.
In a statement posted on X, Khawaja Asif said the comments made by the Indian defence minister were another attempt to distort internationally recognised legal realities through political narratives and coercion. He said such statements could neither change the status of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir nor contribute to peace, stability or meaningful dialogue in the region.
The defence minister reiterated that Jammu and Kashmir remains an internationally recognised disputed territory, adding that its final status must be determined in accordance with the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions and the free will of the Kashmiri people.
India’s continued attempts to rewrite internationally recognised legal realities through coercive rhetoric cannot alter the facts. Pakistan categorically rejects the irresponsible remarks made by the Indian Defence Minister. Such statements reflect a continued attempt to distort…
— Khawaja M. Asif (@KhawajaMAsif) July 26, 2026Khawaja Asif also rejected India's repeated allegations against Pakistan, saying they lacked credibility in light of what he described as India's documented record of state-sponsored terrorism and other criminal activities. He alleged that India was the biggest sponsor of terrorism and instability in South Asia and accused it of pursuing expansionist policies that threaten regional peace.
He further warned that irresponsible statements from the Indian leadership could increase the risk of confrontation between the two countries. Khawaja Asif said Pakistan remains committed to peace and dialogue but stressed that the country's resolve to safeguard its sovereignty, territorial integrity and national security is unwavering and should not be tested.
The defence minister added that the recent rhetoric from the Indian leadership was an attempt to divert attention from India's internal political challenges, growing public unrest and what he described as Prime Minister Narendra Modi's authoritarian and divisive style of governance.