PoK irked over the increased presence of terrorists in the area

PoK residents irked over the increasing presence of terrorists

                                             By SP Sharma

JAMMU: Disturbed over the misuse of the soil of Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) by the Pakistan government, military and ISI for training and launching terrorists in the Indian territory, prominent residents of the Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) have raised a banner of revolt by organizing a rally against the Pakistani government. Womenfolk for the first time joined the protest march.

These protests have come when the Indian security forces were for the past few days engaged in thwarting attempts of infiltration by terrorists who were being backed by the Pakistani army. However, these protests have gone un-noticed by the media in India while Pakistan has intentionally blacked out these activities.

A prominent Kashmiri leader of PoK, Dr.Shabir Choudhary and Afzal Suleria, president of the Kashmir National Party (KNP), organized a peace rally to highlight misuse of PoK soil by Pakistan for training and launching terrorists in India.

Ironically, the separatists based in Srinagar were somehow dominating the media space with their anti-India agenda, whereas those protesting against the Pakistan government, military and ISI of vitiating peace in PoK were being blacked out by the media in India and Pakistan.  

KNP recently organized a Peace Rally and a Peace Conference in the Neelam Valley to protest against growing presence of armed terrorists in the area. The Neelam Valley is also used as a launching pad to send armed terrorists across the Line of Control (LoC) to commit acts of violence and terrorism.

According to Dr.Choudhary, the presence of armed ultras in the area is causing enormous problems for the local people; and many times in the past local people, even the women who do not normally take part in such activities, came out to protest against their presence in the Neelam Valley.

"These armed terrorists are a big source of our problems in the region. They harass and intimidate local people. This area is used as a launching pad to send armed militants across the Line of Control that they can commit acts of violence there. Normal practise is before the armed militants are sent across, army start shelling and in response the Indian army also retaliate and people of Jammu and Kashmir suffer on both sides of the divide."

He said, 'The local people enjoyed some peace and stability after the cease fire was announced some years ago; but peace does not suit some people who have interest in promotion of violence, terrorism and hatred.'

Afzal Suleria requested members of the civil society and media to send their representatives to support this event and provide appropriate media coverage to send a powerful message to those who promote violence and hatred.