Protesters Block NATO Supply Route In Quetta

Supporters of Imran Khan's PTI party check the documents of a truck driver at an unofficial checkpoint in a bid to block NATO supply trucks in Peshawar on December 4.

Hundreds of members of Pakistani parties Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) and Jumat-e-Islami (JI) have staged a protest against U.S. strikes by blocking a NATO supply route in Quetta in northwestern Pakistan.

Demonstrators told RFE/RL's Radio Mashaal that they would continue the protest and will block the route at least until the evening of December 26.

The 200-300 demonstrators, who also include members of other radical parties, have gathered in the Kharotabad area of Quetta where they have blocked the road going to the border city of Chaman.

Members of the PTI and JI have also blocked NATO supply routes in the northern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province since November 23.

PTI is the political party established by former Pakistani cricket star Imran Khan.

Meanwhile, at least three suspected militants were killed by a suspected U.S. drone strike in Pakistan's northwestern tribal area, Pakistani officials say.

Two missiles were reportedly fired on the village of Qutab Khel in North Waziristan near the border with Afghanistan.

The U.S. drone program is extremely controversial in Pakistan, where many are angered by reports of civilian casualties and many consider the attacks a violation of Pakistan's sovereignty.

North Waziristan is one of seven semi-autonomous tribal areas that are a hub of activity by Taliban and Al-Qaeda forces.
With AFP and AP reporting