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US used three Pakistani military bases in anti-Taliban war: official

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Islamabad, July 18, IRNA
Pakistan-US Army Base
The US army used three military bases in Pakistan during war on Taliban, the country's top defense official said on Tuesday.

None of the air base is now used by foreign forces, Secretary Defense Tariq Wasim Ghazi told the parliament's Public Accounts Committee in Islamabad, according to private Geo television.

The US forces used the Jacob-Abad air base in southern Sindh province, Pasni air base and Shamsi air base in southwestern Baluchistan province, bordering Afghanistan, Ghazi said.

President General Pervez Musharraf had changed policy towards Taliban soon after the September 11 attacks and extended full support to the US in its military operation against Taliban in late 2001 and early 2002.

Islamic groups had strongly opposed General Musharraf's decision to join the US-led international coalition but he did not give any heed to them.

Members of parliament from alliance of Islamic groups, the Mutahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) asked the defense secretary in the meeting if the US army is still using Pakistani air base, Ghazi said that the US army used three air bases during anti-Taliban war but now all the air bases are under the control of Pakistan Army.

The members asked Ghazi to present budgetary details of all military bases in the meeting.

He was asked about the last week crash of a passenger Fokker plane in the city of Multan, which had killed 45 people on board.

Ghazi said all Fokker planes crashed in Pakistan due to pilot error.

Parliamentary Secretary Tanveer Syed asked the Ghazi as to why Fokker planes were not grounded when an order to ground all Fokker planes was issued ten months ago.

He said that there was no technical defect in the Fokker and that the decision by the Federal Cabinet to ground them was taken under public pressure.

Ghazi said that Pakistan will not seek any foreign help in inquiry into Multan crash.

When the parliamentary secretary asked Ghazi about the security checking of Pakistani airports prior to the visit of foreign dignitary, he said that security checking of airports is carried out under International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) regulations if there are security concerns.

2020/235/2322/1412