US set equipment on fire before leaving Shamsi air base

Islamabad: Making sure nothing sensitive is left behind, American forces set on fire all their redundant and useless equipment before abandoning the Shamsi air base in the country’s southwest. Shamsi air base, which is now under the control of the Pakistani army, was used by US for reportedly launching drone attacks on militant hideouts. [caption id=“attachment_154322” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“Shamsi air base, which is now under the control of the Pakistani army, was used by US for reportedly launching drone attacks on militant hideouts. Reuters”] [/caption] US was forced to vacate the base as it was given a 15-day deadline by the Pakistani government following last month’s cross-border NATO attack that killed two dozen Pakistani soldiers. A Pakistani military official in Balochistan, while talking about the burning of some equipment by the US, had earlier claimed this was a routine practice as the gear was no longer required. The last flight carrying US personnel and equipment had departed from Shamsi airbase in Balochistan province yesterday and the facility had been “completely vacated” by the Americans, the Inter-Services Public Relations had said. PTI