(Image Source: U.S. Department of State )

 

BY CHARLES MCKEAGUE


ANCHOR LAUREN ZIMA
 

On the heels of highly contested anti-Islam film, “Innocence of Muslims,” Pakistan has declared a national holiday to celebrate the Prophet Muhammad.  The Pakistani government calls it a “special day of love.” Meanwhile, the United States has launched a television ad campaign vehemently rejecting the film. Here’s CNN .

 

Obama: “Since our founding, The United States has been a nation that respects all faiths...”

Clinton: “The United States government had absolutely nothing to do with this video. We absolutely reject its content and message.”

 

That airtime cost the U.S. about $70,000. Victoria Nuland of the U.S. State Department said the ads came at the recommendation of the Pakistani government - and that it is common to buy television ad space for public service announcements. Al Jazeera has more .

 

“It’s an attempt to diffuse protest over a web trailer for a film that ridicules Islam’s prophet Muhammad. Now all these comments are not new, the state departments feels they have not been reported widely enough in the country.”

 

The Indian Express notes the ads are getting extensive airtime and the U.S. State Department has warned U.S. citizens against traveling to Pakistan.

 

“The advertisement ... went into heavy rotation on the Pakistani channels just as a protest by student organisations and extremist groups ... was ending outside the diplomatic enclave in Islamabad. Similar advertisements were also aired on several FM radio channels.”

 

Pakistan is bracing for the biggest demonstrations yet on its new national holiday. One demonstrator has already been killed. The holiday encourages peaceful protests but the country says it has put measures in place to protect against possible mass violence.