Pakistan to ask US to vacate air base

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Pakistan will ask the US to stop using one of its key air bases after a Nato air raid on one of the country's
border check posts left at least 25 soldiers dead, the government said.

An emergency meeting of the cabinet defence committee on Saturday night, chaired by Prime Minister
Yousuf Raza Gilani, also decided to close with immediate effect the Nato's supply lines through the country.

The US will be asked to vacate the air base in Balochistan province within 15 days, Xinhua reported quoting
an official statement.

The cabinet committee ‘strongly condemns the attack by Nato and ISAF aircraft which resulted in the loss
of precious lives of officers and men of Pakistan Army," it said.

The meeting was called to review the situation following the raid in Mohmand Agency. Besides federal
ministers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee also attended.

The government also plans to review all engagements, including military and intelligence, with the US,
Nato and the ISAF (International Security Assistance Force), the statement from the prime minister's office
said.

At least 25 Pakistani soldiers were killed early on Saturday when Nato helicopters from Afghanistan
attacked a border check post, leading to Islamabad lodging a strong protest with Washington. Fifteen others
were injured in the attack.