Pakistani authorities establish control over Shamsi airbase

Pakistani authorities took over Shamsi airbase in the Washuk district on Sunday, as American personnel met the deadline for eviction given earlier by the government.

Express News reported that the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and Frontier Constabulary have taken control of the base. According to sources, the US nationals present at the base had earlier removed radars and other sensitive equipment that was present at the base. Sources say that much of the cargo and drones had been shifted to Afghanistan.

However, three vehicles belonging to American authorities were still present at the base this morning.

An America flag that was previously hoisted at the base was reportedly removed by the CAA authorities.

Pakistan had served a 15 day notice to US to pack up and leave the air strip, located some 300 km south of Quetta, Balochistan. The decision came after a NATO air strike on a Pakistani border post killed at least 24 soldiers, wounding a further 12, on November 26. Pakistan told US to leave the base, suspended fuel and other supplies through land routes, and pulled out from border coordination centers.

The Shamsi base, initially leased to the government of UAE in 1992, had been given to the US after it started Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan in late 2001. US publicly says it uses the base for refuelling and running maintenance on its surveillance drone. However, it is believed that the US has also operated armed versions of its drones from the same air strip to attack targets in Afghanistan, and even in Pakistan.

Quetta News Sources -2

Short URL: https://quetta.newspakistan.pk/?p=179

Posted by News Pakistan Admin on Dec 11 2011. Filed under Breaking News, International, Latest News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry