Pakistan Asks US To Vacate Key Airbase

Islamabad, Nov 27, IRNA – Pakistan top civilian and military leadership Saturday night decided to ask the United States to vacate a key airbase in the country’s southwest after the NATO fighter jets and helicopters killed 28 Pakistani soldiers in the tribal region. An emergency meeting of the Defense Committee of the Cabinet (DCC) was chaired by the Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani also decided to close with immediate effect the NATO/ISAF logistics supply lines, an official statement said. The meeting was called to review the situation arising out of the NATO strikes in Mohmand agency late Friday night. The DDC meeting was attended by Federal Ministers, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, Services Chiefs and members of the DCC attended. The meeting decided to ask the United States to vacate Shamsi Airbase in southwestern Balochistan province within 15 days, in an apparent protest against NATO strikes. The DCC decided that the Government will revisit and undertake a complete review of all programmes, activities and cooperative arrangements with US/NATO/ISAF, including diplomatic, political, military and intelligence, a statement from the Prime Minister office said. The Prime Minister will take the Parliament into confidence on the whole range of measures regarding matters relating to Pakistan’s future cooperation with US/NATO/ISAF, in the near future, it said. “The DCC strongly condemned the attack by NATO/ISAF aircrafts on Pakistani border posts in the Mohmand Agency which has resulted in the loss of precious lives of officers and men of Pakistan Army and injuries to several”. The DCC noted that strong protests had been lodged with the United States and at NATO Headquarters in Brussels conveying in the strongest possible terms Pakistan’s condemnation of these attacks which constituted breach of sovereignty, were violative of international law and had gravely dented the fundamental basis of Pakistan’s cooperation with NATO/ISAF against militancy and terror. The DCC noted that NATO/ISAF attacks were also violative of their mandate which was confined to Afghanistan. Pakistan had clearly conveyed to US/NATO/ISAF its red lines which constituted an integral element of Pakistan’s cooperation that was based on a partnership approach. The attack on Pakistan Army border posts is totally unacceptable and warrants an effective national response, the DCC added. The DCC reiterated the resolve of the Pakistani people and Armed Forces to safeguard Pakistan’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity at all costs, the statement said. The DCC expressed heartfelt sympathies and condolences to families of the brave soldiers who fought valiantly and also prayed for the early recovery of those injured./end