Over 2000 US troops along with a large fleet of aircraft descended on the three airbases provided by Pakistan making it the biggest ever presence of American troops in the country. With as many as 2,000 United States military personnel using the airports of Jacobabad and Pasni as logistical airbases and the airport of Dalbandin, nearest to the Afghan border, as forward operational base, the US military presence in Pakistan has been described as the biggest since late 50s. Besides, a significant presence of military personnel, about three dozen US army helicopters and at least six AC-130 transport aircraft are operating from the three Pakistani airports. The US military personnel have installed extensive radar facilities at the three airports, which virtually covered the entire Pakistani airspace. The US military's air activity in the region is conducted in cooperation with Pakistan Air Force and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), Pakistani daily 'The News' said.
Meanwhile, officials said that Saturday’s US helicopter crash in which two personnel were killed and two injured was an accident and the bodies and the wounded men were airlifted to the US warships in the gulf.
The accident occurred when an approaching US defence aircraft hit the bottom of the helicopter while taxiing on the runway.

Bureau Report