Pakistan has asked over 200 US officials to leave the country within 40 days.

Sources said the government of Pakistan has sent a letter to the US Islamabad embassy, asking it to phase out over 200 US officials in 30 to 40 days. These officials are reportedly assigned various duties such as logistic support and audit and accounts monitoring in terms of the Coalition Support Fund. It is learnt that US Ambassador Cameron Munter is coming back to Pakistan after cutting short his holidays to deal with the emerging situation.

Pakistan and the United States have been at odds over appointment of US contractors and their visas had been drastically cut down to bare minimal. Pakistan has also restricted movement of all foreign diplomats in the country following the unilateral Abbottabad raid by US special forces to purportedly kill Qaeda mastermind Osama bin laden. Pakistan has toughened its stance further following attacks on its Naval bases in Karachi that saw two Orion surveillance aircraft ruined to ashes in a brazen attack yet known in the country’s history.

The United States has already applied heavy-handed methods in dealing with the key ally in the war on terror. The US has stifled CSF funding in such as way that Pakistan awaits its own money to be reimbursed for the logistic and other support the country has been extending to the ‘friend’ US in the war on terror.