Pak army takes control of Shamsi airbase: ISPR

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan army has said that the US has vacated the Shamsi airbase at the last day of given deadline and Pakistan army has taken control of the airbase after the departure of US officials here on Sunday.
According to the press release issued by the Inter-Services-Public-Relations (ISPR) last flight carrying US personnel and equipment departed from Shamsi airbase on Sunday and the base has been completely vacated.
According the ISPR the control of the Base has been taken over by the Army; meanwhile the air wing of the Pakistan air force would use the airport after the departure of US troops.
Earlier in the day Pakistani Civil Aviation officials and FC took full control of the base.
Pakistan had asked the US to vacate Shamsi airbase in Balochistan province following NATO attack on Pakistani check posts on November 26 and martyred 24 soldiers.
According to details the US forces left for Afghanistan in a flight with the remaining equipments and handed over the base to Pakistani authorities.
After the 9/11 incident the Musharraf government had allowed the United Stares to use two airbases in the province — Dalbandin and Shamsi. The Shamsi airbase was built in 1992 by Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the then ruler of the United Arab Emirates for the purpose of hunting Tilor, during their visit to Pakistan.