Drones to patrol Pakistan's tribal belt post-Afghanistan withdrawal: Report

The US administration is expected to reduce the number of troops from 63,000 to nearly 10,000 after next year.

As the world awaits the proposed withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan, US officials stressed that the CIA will maintain significant presence in Kabul and armed drones will continue to patrol Pakistan's tribal belt, The Washington Post reported on Wednesday.

The process of closing down furtive bases in Afghanistan has already begun, though a footprint will remain even after the process is complete. The station in Kabul will remain among CIA’s largest in the world, and a fleet of armed drones are expected to continue to patrol Pakistan’s tribal belt.

The government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif publicly condemns drone attacks and has urged the US to stop such unilateral strikes.

A recent survey conducted by Washington-based Pew Research Center revealed that the US policy of drone use in places such as Pakistan, Yemen and Somalia is facing broad opposition around the world.

The survey conducted on the issue in 39 countries, found that more than half of the respondents in 31 of these countries disapproved of US drone attacks against extremist groups.

The report noted that in most of the nations polled, there continues to be extensive opposition to the American drone campaign against extremist leaders and organizations.