US soldiers protected by Pakistani troops

US soldiers stationed in a military camp in the Pakistani city of Jakobabad are being protected from indignant locals by over 3,000 Pakistani servicemen. Six hundred US servicemen are reported to be virtually under a complete siege in the base. The decision of deploying troops around the military base was made after locals angered by the attacks on Afghanistan had made an attempt to break through to the US military. Sources in Pakistan report that the base has been attacked by about 200 Islamic militants. Luckily, a possible pogrom was averted, as the police managed to save the US soldiers from the mob. To avoid such incidents in the future, the base is now encircled by Pakistani army units numbering 3,000 people. The public sentiments remains unchanged, so the US soldiers must refrain from going out. Pakistan, having granted three military bases for us by the US on its territory (Jakobabad, Pasni, and Dalbanddhin), is taking pains to protect them from Islamic radicals. Patently, Islamabad does not want incidents capable of derailing the international cooperation in the fight against terrorism. Gen. Musharaf stakes too much on cooperation with the USA, which is substantiated by both financial and political interests. The reaction of US soldiers, who have found themselves in such a humiliating position, is still unknown.

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