The people in Pakistan occupied Kashmir, or the so-called Azad Kashmir, have no freedom and they continue to live in an atmosphere of fear, said a Kashmiri leader, reports Swarajya.

“We have no control over there. Pakistan has sent officers and officials from various secret agencies. In ‘Azad Kashmir,’ an atmosphere of fear exists,” said Mahmood Kashmiri, chairman of Jammu Kashmir National Independence Alliance (JKNIA).

Kashmiri was in Geneva to attend the 43rd session of the United Nations Human Rights Council.

“In such a situation, there are very few people who speak against it. Those who speak are being harassed by the security agencies of Pakistan. Despite all, a large number of young people are there who oppose Pakistan’s forceful occupation,” said the PoK leader.

When Pashtun tribal militias supported by Pakistan Army attacked Jammu and Kashmir, PoK and Gilgit Baltistan have been under Pakistani occupation since 1948.

Pakistan used the territory as a breeding ground for terrorism to carry out war against India.

The Pok leader expressed concern and anger over the effects of terrorism, radicalisation and intolerance on local population in the PoK in the name of ‘Jihad’.

Kashmiri also said that Pakistani intelligence agencies are trapping youth in a cycle of terrorism.

He further said the issue of J&K is a political one and should be resolved politically and that many people in J&K oppose the terror activity being carried out by Pakistan in the region.

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