U.S. troops leave Pakistan air base

American troops vacated the Shamsi air base Sunday in accordance with a demand from Pakistan's government, officials said. Unnamed security sources told Pakistan's Dawn News that 71 U.S. soldiers, drones and military hardware were moved to Afghanistan. Pakistan had given the United States 15 days to leave the air base in Balochistan province after a NATO bombing at two border posts Nov. 26 killed 24 Pakistani soldiers. The United States was given use of the base about 18 miles south of Quetta, along with another air base in Dalbandin, following the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks, Pakistan's The Nation reported. The bases were used for military operations in Afghanistan and Pakistan's tribal belt.