Pakistani PM Shehbaz Sharif and army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir have recently visited PoK, delivering fiery speeches that have raised concerns over regional stability
Amid tensions in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir, Pakistani leadership has heightened its provocative narrative contributing to political and military friction surrounding the region.
Both Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir have recently made high-profile appearances in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK), delivering fiery speeches that have raised concerns over regional stability.
According to sources, during a visit to the Line of Control (LoC), Field Marshal Asim Munir was reported to be openly promoting jihad, vowing that “Kashmir will be liberated soon”. He commended the “combat readiness” and “professional excellence” of the officers and soldiers deployed in the area, while reiterating Pakistan’s unwavering political, moral, and diplomatic support for the Kashmiri people’s right to self-determination.
Top intelligence sources told News18 that Shehbaz Sharif echoed this hardline military stance, and addressed an assembly in the region stressing asserting that India has “no option” but to grant self-determination. He claimed that durable peace in South Asia is unattainable until India abandons what he termed “aggressive, expansionist designs and nefarious conspiracies”.
The sources said the impact of this rhetoric on the ground appears increasingly detrimental, as they often result in increased tension, infiltration, and violence for those living close to conflict zones. Local perspectives within PoK, however, reflect a growing sense of frustration and fear.
They said many residents believe that these aggressive stances are “political messaging” rather than a reflection of genuine concern for the population. Sections of civil society, including traders and youth groups, have expressed that such rhetoric has led to “economic disruption” and the loss of lives.