Drones: A Price Worth Paying? - Why only question mark on Imran Khan?

[UKPakistani]

[h=1]Power of Pink: women hungry for drone protest[/h]

Code Pink protestors with several drone strike survivors from North Waziristan. Photo: Facebook

ISLAMABAD: Not content with a planned march into one of Pakistan's most dangerous regions, a group of middle-aged American women are considering mounting a hunger strike outside the US embassy in Islamabad as part a campaign against CIA drone attacks in the country.
Thirty-five activists from Code Pink, a US anti-war group, have gathered in the Pakistani capital this week as they prepare for an unprecedented march and political rally in South Waziristan, one of the semi-autonomous tribal areas on the Afghan border, which is a hotbed of Taliban militancy.
Local authorities have expressed strong doubts about the safety of the march, even though the Pakistani military has long claimed its operations in the area have brought a semblance of security.
Medea Benjamin, the veteran activist leading the Code Pink delegation, said: ''Frankly, it's a win-win situation for us, whether we get into Waziristan or not.
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''We are going because we are challenging the Pakistani government to allow us to go to a place that has been off-limits but needs to be seen. And if they try to stop us, it will be clear they do not want the world to see what is going on there.''
On Tuesday in Islamabad, the women met retired generals, ambassadors and even a former head of the notorious Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) military spy agency, and discussed other tactics to publicise their cause.
On Wednesday, the women met people from North Waziristan who said they were victims of the US drone campaign, having lost relatives to missile strikes by the remote-controlled planes.
The group includes Mary Ann Wright, a former US diplomat and army colonel who condemned her country's covert drone campaign as Barack Obama's ''personal execution device'', in reference to the US President's weekly meeting at which he is reported to choose targets for strikes.
The march, led by Imran Khan and his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, is due to take place this weekend. Organisers hope to spend tonight in a town outside the tribal areas and then move on to Jandola, just inside the border of South Waziristan, where they will hold a rally.
The Taliban have given mixed signals over the march. In August, a spokesman said Mr Khan would be targeted because he is a ''liberal'', but other reports have said the Taliban will support the march.
Supporters say Mr Khan has been assured by the head of Pakistan's military, General Ashfaq Kayani, that if they go to South Waziristan they will remain safe.
If successful, the march will cement Mr Khan's position as a pre-eminent opponent of the US drone campaign.
Code Pink, which originally formed to oppose the second Iraq war, claimed its anti-drone campaign was still in its infancy.
''When it comes to drones, we are at the very beginning of turning public opinion against them in the US,'' Ms Benjamin said.

Australia
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[UKPakistani]

[h=1]Imran Khan leads US drone protest in Pakistan[/h]
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan cricket star turned politician Imran Khan leads Western peace activists and local loyalists on a highly publicised rally to Pakistan's tribal belt Saturday in protest against US drone strikes.

Khan and his Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) or Movement for Justice party, along with British and American activists, plan to drive en masse more than 200 miles (320 kilometres) from the capital Islamabad to South Waziristan.

But the government says Taliban bombers intend to attack the rally and local authorities say foreigners will not be allowed to enter Pakistan's tribal belt, considered a Taliban and al-Qaida stronghold on the Afghan border.

Missiles fired by unmanned US drones routinely target militants operating in the semi-autonomous area in what US officials say is a key weapon in the war on terror.

Peace campaigners condemn the strikes as a violation of international law, Pakistanis as a violation of sovereignty that breeds extremism, and politicians including Khan as a sign of a government complicit in killing its own people.

Khan, a vocal critic of the US-led war on terror who is campaigning ahead of a general election next year, says he wants to show the world the damage inflicted on innocent people by the drone campaign.

"The collateral damage - people's women and children getting killed have created militants and multiplied militants," he said. "This is the only time ever in history that a country has been bombed by its own ally."

He plans to travel with 30 American anti-drone campaigners from the group Code Pink and the British head of legal lobby organisation Reprieve, Clive Stafford Smith.

Critics accuse the former cricketer of blatant electioneering and of ignoring both atrocities blamed on Islamist militants and abuses by the Pakistani army.

Over the last year, Khan has become a growing force in politics, challenging the feudal and industrial elites who traditionally dominate in Pakistan, but there is scepticism about his ability to translate popularity into seats.

The PTI plan to drive to the edge of the tribal belt on Saturday and to Kotkai village in South Waziristan on Sunday to hold a demonstration.

Khan says that if the authorities intervene, they will hold the gathering wherever they are stopped.

He and his supporters have brushed aside fears that their convoy could be attacked by Taliban and other Islamist militants.

Pakistani Taliban spokesman Ehsanullah Ehsan put out a statement on the eve of the march, denying reports that they had promised to provide Khan with security.

"Our mujahideen are not so priceless that we deploy them to protect a Westernised and secular personality," Ehsanullah said.

The umbrella faction said it had no need for "sympathy" from a "secular and liberal person" trying to increase his political stature.

Stafford Smith has written to US President Barack Obama asking him not to order a drone strike on the protest.

Although leaked US cables have revealed tacit support for the drone strikes from Pakistan's military and civilian leaders, Islamabad has increasingly condemned the programme as relations with Washington have deteriorated.

The Pakistani government argues that the attacks are unacceptable violations of its sovereignty and wants to be given the technology to carry out the operations itself.

A report commissioned by Reprieve, Stanford Law School and the New York University School of Law last month gave a devastating account of the affect that drone strikes have on ordinary people.

It said the strikes terrorise civilians, damage US credibility, work as a recruitment tool for militants and generally kill low-ranking fighters.

Reliable casualty figures are difficult to obtain but the report estimated that 474 to 881 civilians were among 2,562 to 3,325 people killed by drones in Pakistan between June 2004 and September 2012.


India

 

[UKPakistani]

Imran Khan leads US drone protest in Pakistan
Pakistan cricket star turned politician Imran Khan (pictured in January) leads Western peace activists and local loyalists on a highly publicised rally to Pakistan's tribal belt on Saturday in protest against US drone strikes. Khan and his Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) or Movement for Justice party, along with British and American activists, plan to drive en masse to South Waziristan.

A Pakistani tribesman is seen showing a photo of a US drone attack victim during a protest in Islamabad, in February. Pakistan cricket star turned politician Imran Khan leads Western peace activists and local loyalists on a highly publicised rally to Pakistan's tribal belt on Saturday in protest against US drone strikes.

Supporters of Pakistani cricketer turned politician Imran Khan and his Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) or Movement for Justice party, shout anti-US slogans as they march during a protest against an anti-Islam film in Lahore, on September 27. Over the last year, Khan has become a growing force in Pakistan's politics.


AFP - Pakistan cricket star turned politician Imran Khan leads Western peace activists and local loyalists on a highly publicised rally to Pakistan's tribal belt on Saturday in protest against US drone strikes.
Khan and his Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) or Movement for Justice party, along with British and American activists, plan to drive en masse more than 200 miles (320 kilometres) from the capital Islamabad to South Waziristan.
But the government says Taliban bombers intend to attack the rally and local authorities say foreigners will not be allowed to enter Pakistan's tribal belt, considered a Taliban and Al-Qaeda stronghold on the Afghan border.
Missiles fired by unmanned US drones routinely target militants operating in the semi-autonomous area in what US officials say is a key weapon in the war on terror.
Peace campaigners condemn the strikes as a violation of international law, Pakistanis as a violation of sovereignty that breeds extremism, and politicians including Khan as a sign of a government complicit in killing its own people.
Khan, a vocal critic of the US-led war on terror who is campaigning ahead of a general election next year, says he wants to show the world the damage inflicted on innocent people by the drone campaign.
"The collateral damage -- people's women and children getting killed have created militants and multiplied militants," he said. "This is the only time ever in history that a country has been bombed by its own ally."
He plans to travel with 30 American anti-drone campaigners from the group Code Pink and the British head of legal lobby organisation Reprieve, Clive Stafford Smith.
Critics accuse the former cricketer of blatant electioneering and of ignoring both atrocities blamed on Islamist militants and abuses by the Pakistani army.
Over the last year, Khan has become a growing force in politics, challenging the feudal and industrial elites who traditionally dominate in Pakistan, but there is scepticism about his ability to translate popularity into seats.
The PTI plan to drive to the edge of the tribal belt on Saturday and to Kotkai village in South Waziristan on Sunday to hold a demonstration.
Khan says that if the authorities intervene, they will hold the gathering wherever they are stopped.
He and his supporters have brushed aside fears that their convoy could be attacked by Taliban and other Islamist militants.
Pakistani Taliban spokesman Ehsanullah Ehsan put out a statement on the eve of the march, denying reports that they had promised to provide Khan with security.
"Our mujahideen are not so priceless that we deploy them to protect a Westernised and secular personality," Ehsanullah said.
The umbrella faction said it had no need for "sympathy" from a "secular and liberal person" trying to increase his political stature.
Stafford Smith has written to US President Barack Obama asking him not to order a drone strike on the protest.
Although leaked US cables have revealed tacit support for the drone strikes from Pakistan's military and civilian leaders, Islamabad has increasingly condemned the programme as relations with Washington have deteriorated.
The Pakistani government argues that the attacks are unacceptable violations of its sovereignty and wants to be given the technology to carry out the operations itself.
A report commissioned by Reprieve, Stanford Law School and the New York University School of Law last month gave a devastating account of the affect that drone strikes have on ordinary people.
It said the strikes terrorise civilians, damage US credibility, work as a recruitment tool for militants and generally kill low-ranking fighters.
Reliable casualty figures are difficult to obtain but the report estimated that 474 to 881 civilians were among 2,562 to 3,325 people killed by drones in Pakistan between June 2004 and September 2012.

France

 

[UKPakistani]

[h=3]In Pakistan, protesters 'march' against US drones[/h]

By ZARAR KHAN
Associated Press ISLAMABAD (AP) - Hundreds of Pakistanis, joined by dozens of American activists, have launched a motorcade "march" against U.S. drone strikes that they hope will reach the militant-riddled Afghan border region.
The main faction of the Pakistani Taliban has denounced the protest, and it is unclear how far the protesters will get.
The two-day march - in reality a long vehicle convoy - is being led by Imran Khan, the former cricket star-turned-politician.
It began Saturday morning in Islamabad and is intended to end in South Waziristan tribal region, a frequent target of drone-fired American missiles.
The American activists are from the U.S.-based anti-war group CODEPINK.
Drone strike opponents allege such attacks kill numerous innocent civilians and terrorize communities. U.S. officials have said the majority of those killed in the strikes are militants.

Russia

 

[UKPakistani]

Dozens of US activists join hundreds of Pakistanis led by Imran Khan on a march to restive tribal areas. Last Modified: 06 Oct 2012 06:25 ​ Rally aims to reach the tribal regions in northwestern Pakistan, though it is unclear how far they will get [Reuters]

[TD="class: articleTitle"]Anti-drone protesters start march in Pakistan

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[TD="class: Tmp_hSpace10"]
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[TD="class: DetailedSummary"] Hundreds of Pakistanis, joined by dozens of American activists, have launched a motorcade "march" against US drone strikes that they hope will reach the Afghan border region in northwestern Pakistan.
The main faction of the Pakistani Taliban has denounced Saturday's protest, and it is unclear how far the protesters will get; access to the tribal areas is controlled by Pakistan's military and security agencies.
The march, in reality a long vehicle convoy, is being led by Imran Khan, the former cricket star-turned-politician.
It began Saturday morning in Islamabad and is intended to end in South Waziristan tribal region, a frequent target of drone-fired American missiles.
Khan has been a voiciferous critic of American drone strikes in Pakistan and has alleged that large numbers of innocent civilians and tribes living along the border have been killed.
The American activists are from the US-based anti-war group CODEPINK.

Drones 'terrorise' civilians
Critics of the strikes allege such attacks kill numerous innocent civilians and terrorise peaceful communities. A report released last month by researchers from New York University and Stanford University found that the drones "terrorise" civilians living in the tribal areas.


The US rarely discusses the top-secret drone programme, but American officials have said the majority of those killed in the strikes are Pakistani Taliban and al-Qaeda fighters, and that the missiles used in the strikes are very precise.

According to the Bureau of Investigative Journalism, the US has launched more than 300 drone strikes in Pakistan in the last eight years, killing more than 2,500 people in North Waziristan alone.
Some estimates say a quarter of those were civilians, including children.
The American presence has buoyed organisers behind the protest but also added to concerns that certain groups will target the weekend event.
Ahead of the march, local media carried reports of alleged suicide bombings planned against the demonstrations, and a pamphlet distributed in a town along the march route warned participants they would face danger.


Middle East. Al Jazeera

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[Jarral]

Hi
He is a tiger and not lamb like you,only lions and tigers will join his march,so do not bother about anything,non of your kind will be hurt

 

[Afridi Coach]

Before and after - drones is become a big topic in all media. Talk shows, newspapers, reports, everything is only drones. Now how to say it is unsuccessful????