Imran Khan in protest over drones

06 October SKY News

Pakistani politician Imran Khan has insisted his "peace march" against the US use of drone airstrikes will go ahead despite widespread security fears.

The former international cricketer has dismissed government warnings about marching into South Waziristan, which is a Taliban stronghold.

He plans to arrive in the area on Sunday in a convoy and hold a rally that will include a number of American peace activists.

But the authorities say they cannot guarantee the safety of the people taking part especially the foreigners and have branded Mr Khan irresponsible.

The opposition leader, though, is unfazed.He says the march has been invited into the area by the three main tribes and they have promised that the demonstrators will not come to any harm."The tribes have got in touch with the militants and the tribes have told us that it is fine, they have no objections to it," he told a news conference.

The security issue, however, is far from straightforward.There were earlier reports that the demonstration would be targeted by militants. That said, the march has struck a chord with many people inside Pakistan who are furious with the US over its policy of drone strikes.

Under the authority of the US President, thousands of attacks using unmanned drone aircraft have been carried out on Pakistani territory since 2004.

Most of the strikes have been in the tribal areas along the border with Afghanistan.

The US claims the area is being used as a springboard and training ground for militants, who then carry out attacks on Nato forces and civilians in Afghanistan.But Pakistani politicians like Imran Khan say drones are not the answer.

"Drone strikes are a crime against humanity. The whole world will be told how drones are destructive and counterproductive through this march," he said. The United Nations Human Rights Council is also increasingly critical of the tactic.It claims the US has failed to keep track of civilian casualties and show in clear and "accountable" terms that the people being targeted are militants.