Rancor between the US and Pakistan increased after the US military raided in Abbottabad to kill Osama bin Laden.—Reuters photo

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, US officials told The Associated Press.

The presence of US forces inside Pakistan is highly unpopular there, and became more so following the US military raid inside Pakistan that killed Osama bin Laden.

According to US officials, the compromise pact slashes the number of US 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 US 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 US-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.

Opinion

Editorial

Geopolitical games
Updated 18 Dec, 2024

Geopolitical games

While Assad may be gone — and not many are mourning the end of his brutal rule — Syria’s future does not look promising.
Polio’s toll
18 Dec, 2024

Polio’s toll

MONDAY’s attacks on polio workers in Karak and Bannu that martyred Constable Irfanullah and wounded two ...
Development expenditure
18 Dec, 2024

Development expenditure

PAKISTAN’S infrastructure development woes are wide and deep. The country must annually spend at least 10pc of its...
Risky slope
Updated 17 Dec, 2024

Risky slope

Inflation likely to see an upward trajectory once high base effect tapers off.
Digital ID bill
Updated 17 Dec, 2024

Digital ID bill

Without privacy safeguards, a centralised digital ID system could be misused for surveillance.
Dangerous revisionism
Updated 17 Dec, 2024

Dangerous revisionism

When hatemongers call for digging up every mosque to see what lies beneath, there is a darker agenda driving matters.