Pakistan requests US to withdraw troops

Chicago, May 26: The US military has announced that it will withdraw its troops from Pakistan, said Pentagon after it received a request from the government of Pakistan to lessen its presence in the country.

The request came after the raid by US special forces that killed Al-Qaeda leader, Osama bin Laden.

The US has more than 200 troops present in Pakistan to help the army get trained, but it is believed that intelligence and special forces too are operating there. It is not yet clear if any of the American intelligence and special operation forces present in Pakistan are also being drawn out.

"Within the last two weeks Pakistan had asked the American military to reduce its footprint, and the Americans were doing so, pulling out some troops. The numbers are quite small," said a spokesman at the Pentagon.

The request appears as a sign of souring relation between the countries, after raids to kill Osama bin Laden were conducted without Islamabad's knowledge.

US is dubious that Pakistan knew about Laden's presence in the country.

OneIndia News