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Hands off Pakistan, protesters tell US

10 March 2012 01:56 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. Pakistanis have condemned the United States over its interference in the countryâ€™s southwestern province of Balochistan,APA reports quoting Press TV.

On Friday, thousands of activists held a demonstration in Islamabad to condemn US policies and a proposed US House of Representativesâ€™ resolution advocating â€œself-determinationâ€ for Balochistan province.

The non-binding resolution was proposed by three Republicans, Dana Rohrabacher, Louie Gohmert, and Steve King, in February.

US flags were burned at the demonstration, which was organized by the Defense of Pakistan Council, an alliance of 40 religious and political groups.

Speakers at the demonstration delivered hard-hitting speeches, urging the government to cease its cooperation with the US, which they said is working to break up Pakistan.

"The US is looking for a military base in the region. That’s why the US is conspiring to make Balochistan province an independent state," one of the organizers of the demonstration told Press TVâ€™s Islamabad correspondent.

The speakers also promised to make any sacrifice necessary to preserve and uphold the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country.

Pakistani Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani has condemned the draft US Congressional resolution, calling it an â€œinfringement of Pakistani sovereignty.â€

Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar has also censured the resolution, saying, â€œSuch acts of foolhardy global vigilantism could only aggravate Pakistanâ€™s already estranged ties with the US.â€