Opening of supply route draws protests
Source: Agencies |
July 9, 2012, Monday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
THOUSANDS of hardline Islamists streamed toward Pakistan's capital in a massive convoy of vehicles yesterday to protest the government's decision to allow the US and other NATO countries to resume shipping troop supplies through the country to Afghanistan.
The demonstration, which started in the eastern city of Lahore, was organized by the Difah-e-Pakistan Council - Defense of Pakistan Council - a group of politicians and religious leaders who have been the most vocal opponents of the supply line.
Pakistan closed the route in November in retaliation for American airstrikes that killed 24 Pakistani troops. After months of negotiations, Islamabad finally agreed to reopen the route last week after US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton apologized for the deaths.
Clinton met with Pakistani Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar for the first time since the apology yesterday on the sidelines of an Afghan aid conference in Tokyo and expressed hope that resolution of the supply line conflict would lead to better relations between the troubled allies.
One of the reasons Pakistan waited so long to resolve the conflict is the government was worried about domestic backlash in a country where anti-US sentiment is rampant.
The demonstration, which started in the eastern city of Lahore, was organized by the Difah-e-Pakistan Council - Defense of Pakistan Council - a group of politicians and religious leaders who have been the most vocal opponents of the supply line.
Pakistan closed the route in November in retaliation for American airstrikes that killed 24 Pakistani troops. After months of negotiations, Islamabad finally agreed to reopen the route last week after US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton apologized for the deaths.
Clinton met with Pakistani Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar for the first time since the apology yesterday on the sidelines of an Afghan aid conference in Tokyo and expressed hope that resolution of the supply line conflict would lead to better relations between the troubled allies.
One of the reasons Pakistan waited so long to resolve the conflict is the government was worried about domestic backlash in a country where anti-US sentiment is rampant.
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