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U.S. Personnel Pull Out From Pakistan Base

| drone, International, NATO attack, Pakistan, u.s. military, vacate

December 4, 2011 | 9:47 a.m. PST

Pakistani citizens burn a replica U.S. flag in protest of NATO airstrike, which killed at least 25 Pakistani soldiers (credit Fox News)

Following the strained relationship between the U.S. and Pakistan, U.S. military personnel began their leave from Shamsi Air Base Fox News reported Sunday.

The move follows a NATO airstrike last month, which killed 25 Pakistani soldiers.

A helicopter and jet attacks ordered to protect troops near the Afghanistan border was believed to be the reason the causalities.

From Fox News:

According to the official, U.S. cargo planes arrived at Shamsi air base to take equipment and other gear used by U.S. personnel out of the country.

The incident began when special operations forces came under fire in the Afghan border in Nov. 26. The Pakistani military was contacted to verify if the nation's military forces were in the vicinity, which according to U.S. military sources was cleared for attack, Fox News reported.

Pakistani government closed two main NATO supply routes into Afghanistan after the incident and gave the U.S. a 15 day deadline to vacate the Shamsi base--an airbase which the U.S. used as a stop for drone planes in operation in the area.