The anti-US and NATO protest rallies organized by Pakistan Defense council (DPC) an umbrella of more than 40 politico-religious parties and rights groups were held on Friday in the cities of Multan, Lahore, Sahiwal and several other major cities of the country.
The angry protestors set fire to NATO and the United States’ flags after blocking traffic in eastern Multan city.
In November, Islamabad closed the NATO supply routes to Afghanistan after an unauthorized US airstrike killed over 24 Pakistani soldiers near the Afghan border. Pakistan also shut the southwestern Shamsi airbase to the US forces.
Anti-US sentiments are soaring in Pakistan over the US assassination drone attacks in northwestern tribal regions, which have killed large numbers of civilians under the excuse of targeting militants.
The United States has deployed its terror drones to launch airstrikes inside Pakistan’s tribal belt, despite repeated protests by government officials in Islamabad who have been demanding an end to the ‘violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty’.
Washington claims its drone strikes target militants, although casualty figures clearly indicate that Pakistani civilians are the main victims of the non-UN-sanctioned attacks.
More than 35,000 Pakistanis have lost their lives in bombings and other militant attacks since 2001 when Pakistan joined an alliance with the US on the so-called war against terrorism.
NK/AO/JR
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