PoK protestors demand end to terror camps, blast government

Protests erupted today in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir with leaders and people alleging that their life has become a "living hell" because of terror camps.

People in Muzaffarabad, Kotli, Chinari, Mirpur, Gilgit, Diamer and Neelum Valley towns in PoK claim that terror training camps have severely affected their life.

Protesters demanded that the government and security forces in Pakistan take immediate steps to destroy terror camps.

"Banned organisations, terror camps are provided food and ration here, we condemn it," a local leader in Muzaffarabad, PoK, told ANI. Another local, from the Gilgit area, said that "if management doesn't end Taliban's terror camps and 'no-go' areas in Diamer, Gilgit, Baseen and others, then we'll take action."

"Unless these terrorists are wiped out completely from our soil, unless these terrorists are completely eliminated, as long as these terrorists are provided with shelters in our homes, till then the problem will not be resolved," said a protester.

The protests further weaken Pakistan's position as it stubbornly denies that India carried out surgical strikes last week targeting terror launch pads or staging areas in PoK.

New Delhi says the strikes followed intel that terrorists in these areas were prepping for attacks in Indian cities.

Days ago, residents of Kotli in PoK protested on the streets alleging atrocities by the Pakistan army and notorious spy agency Inter-Services Intelligence.

The US State Department recently expressed concern over human rights violations in PoK. "We do have concerns about the human rights situation there, have reported it for several years in our Human Rights Report, and we've obviously - are always urging all parties in Pakistan to work out their differences peaceably and through a valid political process," said spokesperson Mark Toner.