Pakistani Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has claimed that the Shehbaz Sharif government and the Congress-National Conference (NC) alliance are aligned on the issue of restoring Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir. His statement comes amid ongoing Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir, the first since the state's special status was revoked in 2019.

In an interview with Geo News, Asif suggested that the Congress-NC alliance has a strong chance of winning the polls and noted that both parties are united in their push for the restoration of Article 370 and 35A. While the National Conference has committed to restoring Article 370, the Congress has remained silent on the matter, focusing instead on the promise of reinstating full statehood for Jammu and Kashmir.

The revocation of Article 370 and the reorganization of the state into two union territories remain contentious issues, particularly in the Kashmir Valley. The National Conference and the PDP have prominently featured the restoration of Article 370 in their election platforms.

The BJP has seized on Asif's comments to criticize Congress, accusing the party of aligning with elements hostile to Indian interests. BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya highlighted the alignment between Congress and Pakistan's stance on Kashmir, while spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla condemned the Congress for its perceived opportunism.