Islamabad, Dec 13 (ANI): The decision taken by the US to vacate the Shamsi airbase after being asked by Pakistan will have little impact on the American air campaign, though it is a big political win for Islamabad, a senior Pakistani military source has said.
"The Shamsi base was more of a maintenance and refuelling base for the drones, while most of the operations are conducted from across the border," he said. "Technically speaking, yes, the vacation of this base should have an impact on the drone operations, but it remains to be seen as to how big an impact this would be," the Daily Times quoted the source, as saying. he US had fully vacated the base after being asked by Islamabad following a recent NATO attack that killed 24 soldiers.
Pakistani security forces now control the base.
Pakistanis view the US departure as a significant victory.
"It's a big move politically, and does show that we are asserting ourselves and won't tolerate any such acts any more. It also shows that the military as well as the government are on the same note on this issue, and so I will call it a significant move to get the base vacated," the source added.
American forces had burnt all redundant and useless equipment before vacating the Shamsi airbase in Balochistan.
A military official in Balochistan had said that the destruction was a routine practice as the gear was no longer required.
The Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) has said the base was completely vacated on Sunday.
Pakistan had asked Washington to vacate the base after a recent NATO attack killed 24 of its soldiers. (ANI)
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