US, Pakistan agree to limit troops
Deal cuts the number of U.S. forces allowed in Pakistan by nearly half
WASHINGTON — The United States and Pakistan have agreed to limit the number of American troops in that country, amid frayed relations between the two nations and a struggle to repair them, U.S. officials told The Associated Press.
The presence of U.S. forces inside Pakistan is highly unpopular there, and became more so following the U.S. military raid inside Pakistan that killed Osama bin Laden.
According to U.S. officials, the compromise pact slashes the number of U.S. forces allowed in Pakistan to between 100 and 150, nearly half of what it has been in the past. The number of special operations trainers would fall from 140 to fewer than 10.
Allowing any elite trainers to stay suggests a bit of a thaw in the icy relationship. Only a few months ago Pakistan demanded that all the trainers as well as other U.S. forces leave the country.
Officials described the agreement on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue. And they said there could be changes to the totals over time.
The pact reflects the volatile nature of the U.S.-Pakistani relationship over the last several years, as Islamabad expresses its ongoing anger with American drone strikes into the country, and fury over the special operations raid that killed bin Laden in May.
Pakistani leaders see the U.S. military actions as violations of its sovereignty. But U.S. leaders say that unless Pakistan goes after insurgents within its own borders who are attacking and killing American troops, the U.S. will act on its own.
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