A tiny air-base in Pakistan's troubled southern Baluchistan province is being secretly used by US intelligence agencies to mount Predator drone attacks on Al-Qaida and Taliban hideouts on Pak-Afghan border, a British media report said.
The Predator attacks have been highly successful and have wiped out scores of dreaded Qaeda affiliated militants over the past many months.
Times said, CIA has been using Shamsi airfield, originaly built by Arab Sheikhs for falconary expeditions in southern Baluchistan - for atleast a year.
The strip is just 50 kms from Afghan border and allows US forces to carry out strategic surveillance of the entire strech of the Pak-Afghan border from Bolan pass in Baluchistan to Parachinar in Kurram agency in NWFP, the paper said.
Receipt of any actionable intelligence makes the personnel station at the airbase, located close to Chagai hills to unleash the UAVs within minutes.
Times said, it was unclear how many drones were operating from the base, but said these UAVs target safe havens within Pakistan, without disrupting Pakistan air forces air defence systems as the drones do not cross into Afghan airspace.
The Times report comes days after a US senator, Dianne Feinstein said that American Drones targeting Qaeda hideouts were operating from within Pakistan.
The State Department refused to comment on her remarks. US and Pakistan have both repeatedly denied that Washington is running any military operations - covert or otherwise - on Pakistani soil.
