Pakistanis stage anti-US demonstration

Thousands of Pakistanis have once again rallied in front of the parliament in the capital Islamabad to protest against the possible re-opening of NATO supply routes for US-led forces in Afghanistan. The Tuesday demonstration came as Pakistan’s parliament was discussing relations between Islamabad and Washington. Chief of Jamaat-e-Islami, Munawwar Hasan said: “If there is talk of reviewing policy with America, if they talk of re-assessment, then the first issue to be tackled is that of the war on terror,” which he said has cost Pakistan dearly. Over 35,000 people have lost their lives in bombings and other militant attacks since 2001 when Pakistan entered an alliance with the US on the so-called war against terrorism, according to Pakistani media. Relations between Washington and Islamabad have been frozen since a US air raid killed 24 Pakistani soldiers in November 2011. Pakistan then blocked supply routes to US-led forces in Afghanistan. It has also forced US personnel out of a base which was used to launch assassination drone attacks.