Protests herald US Secretary of State’s visit

Anti-US protests continued in Pakistan on the eve of US Secretary of State Colin Powell’s visit to the country. Over the past week anti-US rallies were held in the southwestern city of Quetta, where several people died during demonstrations, during which live ammunition and tear gas were used to disperse the crowds. There were also clashes between protesters and police in the North West Frontier Province. On Sunday, at least one person was killed and 10 injured in the southern city of Jacobabad, Sindh province, according to BBC reports. The protest in Jacobabad was mounted by the Jamiat-e-Ulema-e-Islam party, whose members marched to a nearby air base, supposedly on standby for emergency use for air search and rescue operations in the context of the air strikes on Afghanistan. Pakistan had initially refused to allow the US use of its air bases, but more recently announced that it had given permission for the use of two airports. Police officials said security had been tightened across the country, with a stronger police and troop presence on the streets, and that they were not taking any chances ahead of Powell’s visit. Islamic groups called for a general strike in protest against Powell’s trip to Pakistan. According to the BBC, a joint statement was issued by the religious groups, saying the visit would “sprinkle salt on the wounds of Muslims”. The statement also voiced anger against the Pakistani authorities: “Muslims are with the oppressed Muslims of Afghanistan instead of the puppet Pakistani rulers.” Although Powell’s schedule had not been disclosed, due to security reasons, he would reportedly hold talks on the future government of Afghanistan, the BBC report said. As protests continue, Pakistanis are concerned that the whole situation could well tip the balance in Pakistan. Sabiha Sumar, a writer, told the BBC: “Some fear that the US and Britain, by their unwise and ultimately counterproductive military attack on Afghanistan, may have brought Pakistan to the brink of civil war.