Pakistan's defense minister has demanded that the United States vacate an airbase in the south of the country from which drones are launched to strike suspected al-Qaeda and Taliban militants . reported this on June 30 CNN , citing local agencies.

According to defense chief Ahmed Mukhtar, relations between the United States and Pakistan “suffered” after the May 2 killing of al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden . The minister complained that American intelligence agencies did not inform their Pakistani colleagues about the impending operation. Moreover, the United States subsequently stated that it suspected Pakistani intelligence of harboring “terrorist number 1.”

For the American side, the statement by the Pakistani authorities came as a surprise. There is no confirmed information on whether Pakistan has closed the airbase.

Drones are actively used by the CIA to carry out targeted strikes against suspected terrorist targets in Pakistan and Afghanistan. According to some estimates, more than 1,400 militants were killed during their use, including senior members of al-Qaeda.

Earlier in June, Pakistan demanded the expulsion of British instructors who were training local military personnel from the country. It is not reported what caused the conflict with British specialists.

Pakistan leaves the US without a drone base