Leading Pakistani opposition figure Imran Khan says that US assassination drone strikes are fueling anti-American sentiment across the South Asian country.
The remarks come after thousands of Pakistanis, along with dozens of international peace activists, held a two-day peace march to protest against US drone attacks on the country’s tribal areas.
Khan also emphasized that drone strikes had killed many innocent civilians and were spreading hatred against the US aggressive policies in the troubled region.
Khan, who is the leader of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf or Justice Movement, started the 440-kilometer journey from the capital Islamabad on Saturday with a few hundred people, gathering support along the way.
However, the authorities barred protesters from entering the restive tribal regions of South Waziristan, citing security concerns.
“We have given our message...it has gone across the world… We have succeeded in raising this issue. We came here to raise this issue, we came here to take a stand against drones,” Khan said during the rally on Sunday.
Pakistani tribal regions are the target of US terror drones, with Washington claiming that its unmanned aircraft are targeting militants. However, casualty figures indicate that Pakistani civilians are the main victims of the assaults.
The killing of Pakistani civilians, including women and children, in the strikes has strained relations between Islamabad and Washington, prompting Pakistani officials to send warnings to the US administration over the assaults.
Despite Pakistani government’s repeated calls on Washington to end the drone attacks, the US government continues its strikes on the tribal regions of the country.
The aerial attacks were initiated by former US President George W. Bush, but have escalated under President Barack Obama.
The drone strikes have triggered massive anti-US demonstrations across Pakistan to condemn the United States’ violations of their national sovereignty.
MAM/JR/AZ
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