Thousands Hold Anti-US Protest in Pakistani Capital
Rally Demands End to Drone Attacks in North Waziristan
Several thousand Pakistanis rallied in the city of Islamabad today at the behest of the religious opposition party Jamaat-e Islami (JI). The rally, which took place near parliament, demanded the government several all ties with the US and put an end to American drone strikes in North Waziristan.
The leaders of the protest also condemned the Zardari government’s inability to tackle inflation and corruption and said cables released by WikiLeaks proved the unreliability of the Zardari government, likely referring to the president’s admission to US officials in one of the cables that he was planning to “tie up” the reinstatement of banned judges.
JI, who organized the protest, also came up in a WikiLeaks cable, when the FBI mistakenly identified the leader to the Jamiat Ulema-e Islam (JUI) as the head of JI, and the State Department told the FBI not to make such allegations against JUI leaders because they are on better terms with the US than JI is.
The protest involved a sit-in for most of the day, and a follow-up protest is planned for the major Pakistani city of Peshawar in the near future. Peshawar has seen large numbers of refugees following US-mandated offensives in the tribal areas, and may well be the larger protest.
Last 5 posts by Jason Ditz
- No Deal: US Restarted Pakistan Drone Strikes Despite Objections - February 22nd, 2012
- Syrian National Council Demands Foreign Invasion - February 22nd, 2012
- State Dept.: Pakistani Taliban 'Not Welcome' at Truce Talks - February 22nd, 2012
- Israeli FM: Our Decision to Attack Iran None of US, Russia's Business - February 22nd, 2012
- Hunger Strike Ends, but Adnan's Detention Without Charges Doesn't - February 22nd, 2012
MK_Ultra
December 6th, 2010 at 7:50 am
There's another corrupt and sanguine regime that needs to be ousted by its own people. How much lower can a regime get than selling to another the right to invade its own territory and bomb its own people?
jaczar
December 6th, 2010 at 8:37 am
Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iraq, none of their population really supports the U.S. military effort in their countries. No matter what the Pentagon says. Much, but not all of the problem of terrorism is because we interfere in the politics and economics of others and call it pursuing our “interests”. Our interests should end where theirs begins. But no, we’re bullies and press on and cause anger and hatred.
masmanz
December 6th, 2010 at 9:14 am
The leaks show that the US ambassador to Pakistan is actually a Viceroy. They have to agree with whatever the Viceroy says and they need his/her permission for every decision they make.
Did It
December 6th, 2010 at 10:10 am
Did we declare was on Pakistan?? NOPE.
Whole thing is ridiculous.