Not Kashmiris. Not Pakistanis. Those remarks have put Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif at the center of a major political storm. His comments come amid escalating protests in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, where demonstrators are challenging Islamabad's authority and accusing the government of collective punishment. Reports suggest disruptions to food, medicine and fuel supplies, while internet restrictions have further isolated communities. The controversy has exposed divisions within Pakistan's political establishment and renewed scrutiny of Islamabad's treatment of PoK residents. As criticism grows, Pakistan's long-standing narrative on Kashmir is facing uncomfortable questions. This report explores the protests, the crackdown, the political infighting, the international reaction and why Khawaja Asif's remarks could become one of the most damaging self-inflicted controversies for Pakistan in recent years.