After a gap of 44 years, the Olympic torch has arrived in Pakistan. From Muscat, it was brought to Islamabad on a chartered plane.
Thousands of troops and police guarded the ceremony at a sports stadium in Islamabad after organisers slashed the planned route to ward off pro-Tibet demonstrations and the threat of militant attacks.
The security on the torch's first stop in Asia before August's Beijing Games came as Pakistan tries to protect China, its closest ally, from further embarrassment after protesters disrupted the early legs of the worldwide tour.
Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani put aside their political differences and grimly held the torch together after it was lit.
Youngsters waved Pakistani flags and cheered as the flame was brought into the stadium on a traditional horse-driven chariot. The army band played to herald the arrival of the torch.
"It is an honour for us, all Pakistanis, to be an intrinsic part of this tremendous journey and to host the Olympic torch," Musharraf said at a ceremony after the end of the relay.
Former squash star Jahangir Khan completed the relay, which involved around 60 people running laps around the stadium.
The security on the torch's first stop in Asia before August's Beijing Games came as Pakistan tries to protect China, its closest ally, from further embarrassment after protesters disrupted the early legs of the worldwide tour.
Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani put aside their political differences and grimly held the torch together after it was lit.
Youngsters waved Pakistani flags and cheered as the flame was brought into the stadium on a traditional horse-driven chariot. The army band played to herald the arrival of the torch.
"It is an honour for us, all Pakistanis, to be an intrinsic part of this tremendous journey and to host the Olympic torch," Musharraf said at a ceremony after the end of the relay.
Former squash star Jahangir Khan completed the relay, which involved around 60 people running laps around the stadium.
Officials said there was no indication of a specific threat but security was tight because of the presence of Muslim separatists from China's northwestern Xinjiang region in Pakistan's troubled tribal areas bordering Afghanistan.
Pakistan and China are close political, military and commercial allies. But two militant attacks here last year targeted Chinese workers.
China's hopes of winning international prestige by sending the Olympic torch through 135 cities across five continents ahead of the August 8 opening of the Olympic Games have already been severely dented.
The early stages in London and Paris were overshadowed by demonstrations against Beijing's crackdown on protests in Tibet and the third stage in San Francisco was also drastically curtailed and seen by relatively few people.
Pakistan and China are close political, military and commercial allies. But two militant attacks here last year targeted Chinese workers.
China's hopes of winning international prestige by sending the Olympic torch through 135 cities across five continents ahead of the August 8 opening of the Olympic Games have already been severely dented.
The early stages in London and Paris were overshadowed by demonstrations against Beijing's crackdown on protests in Tibet and the third stage in San Francisco was also drastically curtailed and seen by relatively few people.
1 comment:
I feel the attitude of China towards the human rights issues is getting better. Actualy the motto of USA behind this is to trap China and create a reason for the conflict in the region. Hope thes Olmpices would help china to built its image: David Franklin.UK.
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