U.S. reducing troops in Pakistan

WASHINGTON, May 26 (UPI) -- The United States, acting on a request from Pakistan to reduce its presence, is reducing troop strength, a Pentagon spokesman said.

A U.S. State Department spokesman said Thursday the number of U.S. military in Pakistan is being reduced from 300 to about 200.

The Pakistani request came following the May 2 killing of al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden by U.S. forces during a raid on his compound in the Pakistani garrison town of Abbottabad, the BBC reported.

The report said the United States has about 200 military personnel who help train the Pakistani army, plus Special Forces and intelligence units.

The Pentagon spokesman was quoted as saying the troop cutting has begun but the report said the number is believed to be small and it was unclear if that included intelligence and Special Forces, the report said.

U.S.-Pakistani relations have been strained since the May 2 incident with some in Washington expressing suspicion elements in Pakistan knew of bin Laden's hiding place in Abbottabad.

Thursday, State Department spokesman Mark Toner said: "My understanding -- and this is -- I believe the Pentagon has addressed this -- but that there are more than 200, close to 300 military personnel that had been in Pakistan for this training and equipping program. We've been recently notified that the Pakistani government would like to reduce that footprint. And our understanding is that ... footprint has been reduced to about 200."