Missiles kill 17 as Islamists protest
Source: Agencies |
May 7, 2011, Saturday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
UNITED States drones fired missiles into a house in Pakistan's North Waziristan region yesterday, killing at least 17 suspected militants as Islamists protested the killing of Osama bin Laden.
Four drones took part in the first such attack since US special forces killed the al-Qaida leader on Monday, further straining ties between the strategic allies whose cooperation is needed to stabilize neighboring Afghanistan.
Facing relentless suicide bombings by Islamic militants and struggling with a stagnant economy, Pakistan's leaders now face criticism from all sides over bin Laden's death.
Both Islamists and ordinary Pakistanis are questioning how their leaders could just stand by while the US sent commandos deep inside the country into a garrison city to eliminate the al-Qaida chief.
"The country's political and military leadership should immediately resign as they have failed to ensure the country's integrity," said Fareed Ahmed Paracha, a senior leader of the biggest Islamist political party, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam, at a rally in the eastern city of Lahore.
"This is an attack on Pakistan's sovereignty," said Paracha of the raid that ended one of the most extensive manhunts in history.
Predominantly Muslim Pakistan has yet to see any major backlash since bin Laden's killing, but his death has angered Islamists.
About 1,500 of them demonstrated near the city of Quetta, capital of Baluchistan province in the southwest, saying more figures like bin Laden would arise to wage holy war against the US.
"Jihad (holy war) against America will not stop with the death of Osama," Fazal Mohammad Baraich, a cleric, said amid shouts of "Down with America!"
"Osama bin Laden is a shaheed (martyr). The blood of Osama will give birth to thousands of other Osamas."
In Abbottabad, where the US operation took place, dozens of Islamists marched through streets calling on the US to stay out of Pakistan and Afghanistan. "America is the world's biggest terrorist," read one placard.
The US war on militancy is unpopular in Pakistan because of the perception of high civilian deaths from drone attacks.
Four drones took part in the first such attack since US special forces killed the al-Qaida leader on Monday, further straining ties between the strategic allies whose cooperation is needed to stabilize neighboring Afghanistan.
Facing relentless suicide bombings by Islamic militants and struggling with a stagnant economy, Pakistan's leaders now face criticism from all sides over bin Laden's death.
Both Islamists and ordinary Pakistanis are questioning how their leaders could just stand by while the US sent commandos deep inside the country into a garrison city to eliminate the al-Qaida chief.
"The country's political and military leadership should immediately resign as they have failed to ensure the country's integrity," said Fareed Ahmed Paracha, a senior leader of the biggest Islamist political party, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam, at a rally in the eastern city of Lahore.
"This is an attack on Pakistan's sovereignty," said Paracha of the raid that ended one of the most extensive manhunts in history.
Predominantly Muslim Pakistan has yet to see any major backlash since bin Laden's killing, but his death has angered Islamists.
About 1,500 of them demonstrated near the city of Quetta, capital of Baluchistan province in the southwest, saying more figures like bin Laden would arise to wage holy war against the US.
"Jihad (holy war) against America will not stop with the death of Osama," Fazal Mohammad Baraich, a cleric, said amid shouts of "Down with America!"
"Osama bin Laden is a shaheed (martyr). The blood of Osama will give birth to thousands of other Osamas."
In Abbottabad, where the US operation took place, dozens of Islamists marched through streets calling on the US to stay out of Pakistan and Afghanistan. "America is the world's biggest terrorist," read one placard.
The US war on militancy is unpopular in Pakistan because of the perception of high civilian deaths from drone attacks.
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