US anti-terror trainers reject Karachi, want new base near Nilore nuclear plant

ISLAMABAD - US security trainers, who were running a camp to impart counter-terror training to Pakistani officials at the Police Training College in Sihala, have refused to move out of their base following the government’s decision to close the camp.

The Pakistan government, due to increasing protest, had decided to close down the training camp and instead provide the US officials new base near Karachi. However, the American anti-terror experts have rejected the site.

It is pertinent to mention here that the Sihala Police Training College is located between Islamabad and Pakistan’s nuclear installations at Kahuta and it was said that American trainers were monitoring Pakistan’s nuclear assets in the guise of providing anti-terror training.

“Even for the last one and a half years, they have not trained anyone and when media raised serious questions about their presence, the US trainers, in order to extend their stay, directly approached Presidency with an offer to train its staff,” The Nation quoted sources privy to the issue.

“After the announcement made by Interior Ministry regarding the closure of US- supervised training camp Americans disappeared but all their belongings including dozens of containers still lay there at the college premises,” a senior official at the Sihala College said, on conditions of anonymity.

According to insiders, the US officials are asking the government to provide a place near Simly Dam.

The dam is strategically located. It is close not only to the Nilore nuclear plant but also to a major military Research and Development (R and D) centre. (ANI)