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In a significant development, according to reports, US ambassador to Pakistan Cameron Munter has said on December 5, that the United States is vacating an air base in Pakistan used by American drones, complying with a key demand made by Islamabad in retaliation for the NATO airstrikes that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers. Washington’s decision to leave the base shows how the NATO attacks on November 26 have plunged the already strained US-Pakistan relationship to an all-time low. 1
In another development, according to reports, leading Republican Senator John Mccain has said that any aid to Pakistan should be tied to its cooperation on matters relating to security. He also said that Pakistani intelligence continues to support a militant group that kills Americans. Hence, all kinds of aid given to Pakistan should be evaluated against degree of cooperation from Pakistan. 2
According to reports, even though Pakistan decided to boycott the Bonn Conference, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has said that Pakistan has a crucial role to play in stability in the region. The Pakistani authority had decided to pull out of the conference after the deadly attack on its troops weeks ago. Though, Pakistani Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani has assured cooperation and fight against terror in the region. 3
In other develoepmts, reports noted that in a rocket attack in Quetta, up to 20 trucks were torched in NATO trucking terminal. These trucks were carrying supplies to troops in Afghanistan. An official reported that unknown gunmen fired bullets and rockets into the parked oil tankers which blazed other vehicles nearby. Numbers of casualties are unknown. No group has claimed responsibility as of now. 4
- 1. “US vacating Shamsi airbase, says Cameron Munter”, Dawn, December 5, 2011 at http://www.dawn.com/2011/12/05/us-vacating-shamsi-air-base-says-cameron-...
- 2. “US lawmaker urges tying Pakistan aid to cooperation”, Dawn, December 4, 2011 at http://www.dawn.com/2011/12/04/us-lawmaker-urges-tying-pakistan-aid-to-c...
- 3. “Pakistan still has crucial role to play: Clinton”, Dawn, December 5, 2011 at http://www.dawn.com/2011/12/05/pakistan-still-has-crucial-role-to-play-c...
- 4. “Twenty trucks torched in attack at NATO terminal in Quetta,” Dawn, December 8, 2011 at http://www.dawn.com/2011/12/08/twenty-trucks-torched-in-attack-at-nato-t...