Pakistan’s government has ordered the U.S. to “vacate” an air base used for suspected drone attacks, in retaliation for a NATO strike that allegedly killed two-dozen Pakistani soldiers, Fox News has confirmed.
The demand marked the latest reprisal out of Pakistan, as the U.S. and NATO allies scramble to investigate the incident. Islamabad had already ordered the country’s border crossings into Afghanistan closed, blocking off NATO supply lines, after the strike. The government issued the air base demand, and pledged a “complete review” of its relationship with the U.S. and NATO, following an emergency military meeting chaired by Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani.
Pakistan’s Defense Committee condemned the attack in a written statement, saying the strike was “violative of international law and had gravely dented the fundamental basis of Pakistan’s cooperation” with NATO against terrorists.
“The attack on Pakistan Army border posts is totally unacceptable and warrants an effective national response,” the statement said.
The government urged the U.S. to leave the Shamsi Air Base within 15 days. The U.S. is suspected of using the facility in the past to launch armed drones and observation aircraft. Pakistan made a similar demand over the summer, though officials reportedly claimed the CIA had already suspended its use of the base as a staging ground for armed drones months earlier.
Still, the tone of the Pakistani government’s statement Saturday underscored the depth of the potential fallout after Pakistan accused NATO aircraft of firing on two army checkpoints and killing 24 soldiers. The incident early Saturday quickly exacerbated tensions between the two countries and threatened to escalate into a standoff more severe than one last year after a similar but less deadly strike.
Last year, Pakistan closed the Torkham border crossing to NATO supplies for 10 days after U.S. helicopters accidentally killed two Pakistanis. On Saturday, Pakistan went further, closing both of the country’s border crossings into landlocked Afghanistan.
A short stoppage may have little effect on the war effort, but could have deadly consequences. During last year’s dispute, militants took advantage of the impasse to launch attacks against stranded or rerouted trucks carrying NATO supplies.
With 24 dead in the pre-dawn incident Saturday, U.S. officials expressed regret and vowed to launch an investigation. If confirmed, it would be the deadliest friendly fire incident by NATO against Pakistani troops since the Afghan war began a decade ago.
“This incident has my highest personal attention and my commitment to thoroughly investigate it to determine the facts,” said Gen. John Allen, the top commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan.
“My most sincere and personal heartfelt condolences go out to the families and loved ones of any members of Pakistan Security Forces who may have been killed or injured.”
A statement said NATO leadership remains “committed” to improving security ties with Pakistan.
Join the official YWN WhatsApp status
One Response
Drones are a problem. Note that no one uses them on their own territory (e.g. Israel using an armed zone in the West Bank or inside the Green Line). All air assaults run an serious increased liklihood of killing the wrong people, and this is likely to be increase if the pilot isn’t even on the scene but is watching on a monitor in a remote location.