By IANS,
Islamabad : The US will vacate the Shamsi airbase as per the deadline given by the government, Interior Minister Rehman Malik has said.
Malik said here Wednesday: “We are expecting that the US will vacate the Shamsi airbase as per deadline given by the government.”
Pakistan had set a Dec 11 deadline for the US to vacate the airbase after NATO helicopter gunships targeted two border posts in Mohmand Agency Nov 26, killing two dozen soldiers and sparking outrage in the country.
The US has been using the Shamsi airbase for nearly a decade for military operations in Afghanistan and drone strikes in Pakistan’s tribal regions.
Rehman Malik said the drone attacks have been condemned by the government, opposition and people of Pakistan.
“US must pay attention to the voice of people of Pakistan and stop drone attacks as these are against the sentiments of people,” Associated Press of Pakistan quoted the minister as saying.
The US Sunday began to pull out from the Shamsi airbase that had been used to launch drone attacks.