Pakistan asks US to reduce troop numbers

America is reducing the number of its troops in Pakistan after its special forces killed Osama bin Laden.

Pentagon spokesman Marine Col David Lapan said there were more than 200 military personnel in the country but gave no details on how many had been withdrawn since Pakistan made its request.

"Within the past two weeks we were notified in writing that the government of Pakistan wished for the US to reduce its footprint in Pakistan," he said. "Accordingly, we have begun those reductions."

Col Lapan said the troops who had left had been training Pakistani forces in counter-insurgency skills. The US also has personnel assigned to the defence ministry in Islamabad and there are said to be intelligence and special forces operating in the country.

Lapan said the total exceeds 200, but he was not more specific. He said that it has fluctuated between 200 and 300 over time, depending on the training program being executed.