Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has stated that his government and the Congress-National Conference (NC) alliance in Jammu and Kashmir are aligned in their goal to restore Articles 370 and 35A, which were revoked by the BJP-led government. Asif emphasized that the issue is pivotal in the ongoing assembly elections and predicted that the NC-Congress alliance could potentially gain power in the region. This remark has prompted a strong backlash from the BJP, which accused the Congress of colluding with Pakistan, citing the minister's statements as evidence of this partnership. BJP leaders have criticized Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, questioning why his positions seem to mirror those of Pakistan. The National Conference has included the restoration of Article 370 in its election manifesto, reflecting significant local support for this issue. The political tensions are heightened as voter turnout has been robust in the first phase of the elections, making this a critical moment for all parties involved.