Pakistan Stops US From Using Airbase in Balochistan

[tekisui]

Source: Sify News

Washington: Pakistan has stopped US forces from using an airbase in Balochistan from where unmanned predetaor drones were operating, in fresh signs of growing rift between the two countries over the CIA operated strikes.

"Yes I can confirm Shamsi air base is no more under the use of American and 150 US personnel stationed at the base have left," NBC reported quoting senior Pakistani military intelligence officials.

The reports came in hours after US drones struck in North Waziristhan region killing at least 25 people including foreign militants and some women and children.

NBC said the CIA had been using the base close to the Afghan border as a station to launch unmanned predator drones to attack terrorists targets inside Pakistan's tribal areas.

more: http://www.sify.com/news/pak-stops-us-from-using-airbase-in-balochistan-news-international-lexr4chejfc.html

[xchrom]

1. interesting turn of events. this will bear watching. nt

[Autumn]

2. Good for them

they should try to stop their people from being killed.

[Arctic Dave]

3. The US probably doesn't need it anymore but it makes a good headline

for the Pakistani government.

[tekisui]

4. I wonder about that.

Pakistan has grown increasingly vocal in objecting to the drone strikes.

[jtrockville]

5. Did Pakistan ever reopen the Khyber Pass as a supply route for US and NATO?

They closed it back in September: http://www.theledger.com/article/20100930/news/9305080

Rachel Maddow covered it, but I didn't see mention of it anywhere else.

[sabrina 1]

6. Good. It's about time.

Hopefully that will stop some of the slaughter of innocents. The Pakistani Government should have never allowed it in the first place as their civilians have been dying by drone for a long time now.

The arrogance of this country, no matter how many times they have been asked to stop the killing of civilians with those cowardly weapons, they simply ignore everyone.

Now they are planning to slaughter people in Libya with them. They KNOW how controversial their use is, how inaccurate they are, and they lie as if the world is going to believe them.

Gates lied when he announced the decision by this president to use them in Libya by claiming they were 'precise' weapons. Does that mean they INTENDED to kill women, children, wedding parties?