Pakistan to ask US to vacate air base
November 27th, 2011 - 10:00 am ICT by IANS
Islamabad, Nov 27 (IANS) Pakistan will ask the US to stop using one of its key air base after a NATO air raid on a border checkpost left at least 25 of its soldiers dead, Xinhua reported.
An emergency meeting of the cabinet defence committee Saturday night, chaired by Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, also decided to close with immediate effect the NATO’s supply lines through the country.
The US will be asked to vacate the air base in Balochistan province within 15 days, according to an official statement.
At least 25 Pakistani soldiers were killed early Saturday when NATO helicopters from Afghanistan attacked a border checkpost, leading to Islamabad lodging a strong protest with Washington. Fifteen others were injured in the attack.
The meeting was called to review the situation after the NATO strike in Mohmand Agency. It was attended by federal ministers and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, among others.
The government also plans to review all engagements with the US, the NATO and the ISAF (International Security Assistance Force), the statement from the prime minister’s office said.
The cabinet committee “strongly condemns the attack by NATO and ISAF aircraft which resulted in the loss of precious lives of officers and men of Pakistan Army,” it said.
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